Relief came on Thursday for onion farmers in Kebbi State as the Federal Government, through the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF), launched the first phase of its Onion Intervention Programme in Birnin Kebbi to support farmers hit by floods and climate-related shocks.
The programme targets farmers whose farms and incomes were badly affected by flooding and pest outbreaks, which disrupted onion production across key producing states. The intervention was officially flagged off at the Produce Office in Birnin Kebbi.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of NADF, Muhammad Abu, represented by the Director of Emergency Response, Professor Maryam Abubakar, said the initiative was designed as an urgent recovery measure for vulnerable farmers. She noted that onion farming remains a critical value chain for food security, income generation and rural development in Nigeria.
According to her, farmers in Kebbi, Sokoto, Yobe and Borno states suffered heavy losses that affected household incomes and local markets. “This intervention is aimed at helping farmers recover quickly and return to production,” she said, adding that the programme aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises targeted support for vulnerable farmers.
In Kebbi State alone, 520 onion farmers are benefiting from the emergency distribution of farm inputs under the first phase of the programme. NADF also disclosed that plans are already in place to scale up support during the 2025/2026 dry season farming cycle.
The Fund further revealed that no fewer than 5,000 onion farmers affected by last year’s flooding and pest invasion would be identified to benefit in subsequent phases of the intervention. It assured dramatic transparency in the distribution process, stating that the exercise would be equitable and closely monitored in collaboration with the Kebbi State Government.
Earlier, the Chairman of the occasion and Chairman, House Committee on Agricultural Production and Services, Rt. Hon. Bello Kaoje, who represents Bagudu/Suru Federal Constituency, commended the resilience of onion farmers despite repeated climate shocks. He pledged continued legislative support to attract more agricultural interventions to the sector.
Representing the Kebbi Governor, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Resources, Alhaji Shehu Muazu, urged beneficiaries and the Onion Farmers’ Association to ensure genuine farmers receive the inputs. He stressed that the support was meant to restore production and not be diverted locally.
