Farmers in Kano, Jigawa, Bauchi get inputs
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The Soil Values Programme, in collaboration with the Nigerian Agro-Inputs Dealers Association Northwest, has launched a new one-stop shop model to strengthen the delivery of inputs to smallholder farmers within the watersheds.
In a speech at the function in Dutse on Friday, the Country Coordinator, Soil Values, Mrs. Medina Fagbemi, said that the nine mobile shops will cover over 20 northern communities.
She added that the initiative is also expected to reach about 7,000 smallholder farmers across nine LGAs from Kano, Jigawa, and Bauchi states, who were trained on business and financial management of the mobile shops.
According to her, the model brings essential inputs such as quality seeds, fertilizers, and crop protection products closer to farmers through a mobile, market-based delivery system.
The system, she explained, helps farmers adopt more improved and impactful practices while reducing access barriers such as distance, transport costs, and fragmented supply.
“It integrates agronomic advisory services, soil testing, and digital profiling of farmers, ensuring that input distribution is accompanied by knowledge and data-driven recommendations for improved soil health and productivity.
“By linking farmers, agro-dealers, and other value chain actors, the model promotes inclusive access, market efficiency, and sustainable soil management practices, contributing to resilient livelihoods and the overall objectives of the Soil Values Program.
“I commend all the trained agropreneurs and extension agents for their commitment and enthusiasm in embracing this innovative model,” the coordinator said.
She tasked them with upholding the principles of integrity, service, and inclusiveness as they deliver on the initiative’s vision to make agricultural inputs accessible, affordable, and impactful for every smallholder farmer.
Earlier, the Vice President, Northwest NAIDA, Abdullahi Muhammed, urged the beneficiaries to be good ambassadors of the project. He appealed to them to uphold and implement the recommendations of the three-day training they received from various resource persons.
In his remarks, the Director of Jigawa State Agricultural Transformation Agency, Dr Saifullahi Umar, commended the initiative. He expressed gratitude that Jigawa happened to be among the benefiting states of the new model.
Umar assured the support of the state government in achieving the set objectives and pledged the Namadi administration’s commitment to agricultural transformation.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mathew Zaki and Tasiu Muhammed pledged proper utilisation of the mobile shops. They pledged to utilize the skills learned during the three days of training on best practices for using the models.
Muhammed Auwal, the Secretary, NAIDA Northwest, tasked the beneficiaries with effective utilisation. He reminded them that NAIDA will provide effective and close monitoring for the ethical utilization of the mobile shops in the respective designated centres.
The Soil Values Programme is a €100m, 10-year programme funded by the Directorate for International Cooperation of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
It is being implemented in Northern Nigeria, Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso to improve soil fertility, decrease yield gaps, and increase resilience to climate shocks for 1.5 million smallholder farmers, as well as restore 2 million hectares of degraded lands.
In Northern Nigeria, over a 10-year period, the program aims to reach 600,000 smallholder farmers, including women and youths, to restore 800,000 hectares of degraded lands.
The program is implemented by a consortium led by the International Fertilizer Development Centre and comprising SNV and Wageningen University & Research in the Netherlands, with support from knowledge partners, namely IITA, AGRA, ICRAF, IWMI, and ISRIC.
