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From Taiwo Oluwadare, Ibadan
In a decisive move to revive onion production in flood-ravaged communities across northern Nigeria, the Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS) and the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF), has rolled out an emergency intervention targeting 2,000 vulnerable onion farmers in Borno, Yobe, Sokoto and Kebbi States.
The simultaneous distribution of critical farm inputs on Wednesday forms part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at cushioning the impact of climate-induced disasters and restoring the livelihoods of smallholder farmers hardest hit by the 2024 floods.
Under the intervention, each beneficiary received four 50kg bags of 15-15-15 NPK fertiliser, three packs of red and white onion seeds, as well as insecticides and herbicides to support immediate replanting and boost productivity.
Flagging off the exercise at the Borno Fertilizer Company Ltd/Farm Centre in Maiduguri, the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of NADF, Muhammad Abu Ibrahim, described the programme as a strategic response to post-harvest losses and declining farm incomes caused by flooding and other climate shocks.
Represented by the Lead, Public Partnerships, Shettima Gambo Lawan, Ibrahim said the initiative marked the first phase of a broader Onion Intervention Programme designed to restore production capacity, strengthen resilience and stabilise the onion value chain, which plays a critical role in rural livelihoods, nutrition and national food supply.
According to him, onion farmers in Sokoto, Kebbi, Yobe and Borno suffered significant losses that disrupted household incomes, local markets and overall food availability, necessitating a targeted and timely federal response.
“This intervention, which directly benefits over 2,000 onion farmers, is a significant step towards recovery. It reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring that farmers can return to their fields without delay and rebuild their livelihoods,” Ibrahim said.
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Governors of the benefiting states commended NADF and the Federal Government for the initiative, pledging sustained collaboration to deepen agricultural value chains, stimulate economic growth, create jobs and reduce poverty.
Declaring the distribution open, Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, represented by the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Hon. Bawu Musami Alhaji, described the intervention as a lifeline for smallholder farmers who are central to food security in the state.
He disclosed that about 450 onion farmers in Borno would benefit from the programme, with the remaining 1,550 beneficiaries spread across Yobe, Sokoto and Kebbi States.
“This programme is a practical demonstration of responsive governance, one that listens to farmers, understands the strategic importance of agriculture to national stability, and acts decisively to protect Nigeria’s food system,” Zulum said, while urging beneficiaries to make judicious use of the inputs rather than selling them.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, the Borno State Chairman of the Onion Farmers, Producers and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NOPPMAN), Alhaji Dunoma Goni Adam, described the intervention as timely and reassuring.
He noted that the support would ease the challenges faced during the last farming season and expressed confidence that it would significantly improve productivity and livelihoods in the coming planting cycle.
