From Umar Danladi Ado, Sokoto
The Federal Government has distributed emergency agricultural inputs to 600 vulnerable onion farmers in Sokoto State following losses recorded during the 2025 farming season due to poor-quality seeds.
The intervention, which covers more than 300 hectares of farmland, is aimed at helping affected farmers recover their livelihoods and boost onion production in the state.
Under the programme, each beneficiary is allocated inputs sufficient for 0.5 hectares, including fertilisers, insecticides and pesticides.
Speaking at the distribution exercise, the Executive Secretary of the National Agricultural Development Fund, Mu’azu Ibrahim, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, said the support was designed to ease farmers’ hardship and stabilise onion production.
He said the initiative underscored the Federal Government’s commitment to protecting farmers from shocks and strengthening food security.
The President of the National Onion Producers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria, Mallam Aliyu Maitasamu Isah, described the intervention as timely, noting that it would benefit onion farmers not only in Sokoto but also in Borno, Yobe, Zamfara and Kebbi states.
Isah thanked the Federal Government, the National Agricultural Development Fund and the Sokoto State Government for the support, assuring that beneficiaries would make effective use of the inputs to revive production.
Also speaking, the Sokoto State Commissioner for Agriculture, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Almustapha Alkali, expressed optimism that the intervention would result in a bumper onion harvest in the 2026 farming season.
He said the support complemented the state government’s efforts to expand agricultural production and strengthen farmers’ capacity.