The Heineken Africa Foundation, in partnership with Nigerian Breweries Plc, has announced a N4bn commitment to train 14,000 smallholder farmers in Bauchi State over the next three years. The project, unveiled on Thursday in Bauchi, is titled “Empowerment of Smallholder Farmers to Thrive and Build Climate Resilience through Regenerative Agriculture.”
The Head of Public, External and Government Affairs at Nigerian Breweries Plc, Chukwuemeka Aniukwu, said the programme was developed in collaboration with the Foundation for Sustainable Smallholder Solutions. He explained that it builds on the Foundation’s long-standing investment in healthcare, water, sanitation, and hygiene across Africa.
“Our decision to invest in Bauchi is both deliberate and strategic. Bauchi is home to resilient, resourceful, and industrious smallholder farmers whose contributions are essential to Nigeria’s food security,” he said.
Aniukwu stated that the initiative will strengthen farmer livelihoods, especially women and young people, by improving their capacity to earn sustainable income. He noted that support will include access to training, quality inputs, better market linkages, and opportunities across the agricultural value chain.
The Executive Director of the Foundation for Sustainable Smallholder Solutions, Dr Isaiah Gabriel, said the farmers would be trained through Farmer Field Schools and demonstration plots. He added that out of the 14,000 beneficiaries, 60 per cent are women and 40 per cent are youth.
Gabriel explained that the training would focus on regenerative and climate-smart agriculture, soil and water conservation, pest and disease management, crop diversification, and post-harvest handling. “The project supports the restoration and protection of natural resources by promoting regenerative farming that rebuilds soil fertility, efficient water management, and adoption of drought-tolerant crop varieties,” he said.
He noted that the programme aims to raise farmers’ income by at least 30 per cent and will cover seven LGAs including Katagum, Shira, Jama’are, Giade, Itas-Gadau, Zaki, and Gamawa. Gabriel commended the Bauchi State Government for what he described as strong support and an enabling environment for the project.
In his remarks, the Bauchi State Commissioner for Agriculture, Iliyasu Gital, praised the foundation for choosing Bauchi for the intervention and pledged full government backing.
Some beneficiaries expressed their appreciation, saying the programme will transform farming practices and strengthen food security. A beneficiary from Kano State, Maimunatu Sani, said she learnt how to recycle farm residues to produce organic fertiliser and encouraged farmers in Bauchi to embrace the training. Another Kano-based farmer, Mama Mairam, said the introduction of new farming techniques had reduced wastage and increased yields per hectare.
