Smallholder farmers in Jalingo have been encouraged to take full advantage of the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Smallholder Support and Value Chain Programme to improve agricultural productivity and strengthen Nigeria’s food security, as the Bank of Agriculture (BOA), in partnership with Japtini Food & Retail Company Limited, officially flagged off the 2026 farming season input distribution in Taraba State.

The Initiative, financed by the Bank of Agriculture through Farmers Aggregation Companies (FACs), provides smallholder farmers with essential agricultural inputs, including fertilizers, agrochemicals, and improved high-yield seedlings, to boost production and enhance livelihoods.

Speaking at the flag-off ceremony through the Bank’s North-East Zonal Head of Finance, Hajiya Hauwa Sule Garba, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Bank of Agriculture, Mr. Ayo Sotinrin, reaffirmed the Bank’s commitment to supporting farmers as a pathway to achieving national food security, rural prosperity, 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 designed to reach two million smallholder farmers across Nigeria, with plans to distribute over 10 million bags of fertilizer. To date, more than 200,000 farmers have been financed, while over 1.1 million bags of fertilizer and 16,470 metric tonnes of improved seeds have already been deployed nationwide. In Taraba State alone, the Bank of Agriculture is financing more than 15,000 farmers through Japtini Food & Retail Company Limited.

The Emir of Jalingo, Alhaji Tukur Abba Tukur, commended the Federal Government and the Bank of Agriculture for bringing the initiative to Taraba State, noting that many of the beneficiaries are rural women whose participation will further strengthen food production and household incomes.

He urged beneficiaries to make proper use of the inputs, warning against diversion and emphasizing that the programme would be closely monitored to ensure it achieves its intended objectives.

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 speaking at the event, the Taraba State Lead for Japtini Food & Retail Company Limited and Project Coordinator in Jalingo, Mr. Iliyasu Mustapha, emphasized that accountability and transparency among beneficiaries would determine the long-term success of the programme. He pledged that his organization would ensure that the inputs reach genuine farmers across the state.

Beyond providing production inputs, the programme also guarantees farmers access to reliable offtakers for their produce, ensuring a ready market for their harvests and improved incomes for participating farmers.

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