The Bank of Agriculture (BoA), in collaboration with Japtini Food & Retail Company Limited, has commenced the distribution of agricultural inputs to more than 15,000 smallholder farmers in Taraba State as part of the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Smallholder Support and Value Chain Programme.

The official flag-off ceremony for the 2026 farming season took place in Jalingo, where smallholder farmers were encouraged to maximize the opportunities provided under the programme to increase agricultural productivity and contribute to Nigeria’s food security.

The initiative is funded by the Bank of Agriculture through Farmers Aggregation Companies (FACs) and supplies participating farmers with key agricultural inputs, including fertilizers, agrochemicals and improved high-yield seedlings. The intervention is aimed at increasing crop production while improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers.

Represented by the Bank’s North-East Zonal Head of Finance, Hajiya Hauwa Sule Garba, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Bank of Agriculture, Ayo Sotinrin, reiterated the institution’s commitment to empowering farmers as a strategy for promoting food security, rural development and sustainable economic growth.

“Investing in farmers is investing in Nigeria’s future. Today, we have a government and an institution genuinely committed to the success of rural farmers. This support comes with responsibility. Farm with everything you have.
Apply these inputs correctly, and let your harvest demonstrate that when Nigerian farmers receive the right support, they deliver exceptional results,” he said.

The Renewed Hope Smallholder Support and Value Chain Programme is expected to benefit two million smallholder farmers across the country. Under the initiative, more than 10 million bags of fertilizer are planned for distribution nationwide.

According to programme figures, over 200,000 farmers have already received financing, while more than 1.1 million bags of fertilizer and 16,470 metric tonnes of improved seeds have been deployed across Nigeria. In Taraba State, the Bank of Agriculture is financing over 15,000 farmers through Japtini Food & Retail Company Limited.

The Emir of Jalingo, Alhaji Tukur Abba Tukur, praised the Federal Government and the Bank of Agriculture for extending the intervention to Taraba State. He observed that many of the beneficiaries are rural women, noting that their participation would further enhance food production and improve household incomes.

The traditional ruler also urged beneficiaries to utilize the inputs appropriately, cautioning against diversion and stressing that implementation of the programme would be monitored to ensure its objectives are achieved.

“We in Jalingo and across Taraba State are delighted that the Federal Government, through the Renewed Hope Initiative, has remembered our people with this remarkable intervention aimed at supporting genuine farmers. We are confident our farmers will reciprocate this gesture with hard work and bumper harvests. We sincerely appreciate Mr. President for this thoughtful initiative,” the Emir stated.

Also addressing participants, the Taraba State Lead for Japtini Food & Retail Company Limited and Project Coordinator in Jalingo, Iliyasu Mustapha, said transparency and accountability among beneficiaries would be essential to the programme’s long-term success. He assured stakeholders that the organisation would ensure agricultural inputs are distributed to genuine farmers throughout the state.

In addition to providing production inputs, the programme includes guaranteed access to reliable offtakers for participating farmers, creating a ready market for harvested produce and helping to improve 

source: The sun