By Rita Iliya
The Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA), in collaboration with partners, has engaged stakeholders to strengthen linkages among farmers, input market actors and financial institutions ahead of the 2026 farming season.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the engagement, held in Minna on Friday, is part of a maize and soybean farming system project funded by the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) in Niger and Kaduna states.
Mr Isaac Eni, Project Coordinator of the intervention tagged “Enhancing the Productivity and Competitiveness of Smallholder Farmers in the Maize-Soybean Farming System in Nigeria,” said the initiative would improve farmers’ access to critical inputs and services.
Eni said that the forum brought together farmer groups, agro-dealers, seed companies, extension agents, financial institutions and other service providers.
He added that the platform provided stakeholders the opportunity to interact, negotiate and build trust ahead of the rainy season.
“With farmers preparing for the season, this session is designed to connect them directly with input suppliers and financial institutions for timely access to quality inputs and services,” he said.
According to him, the initiative promotes transparency in pricing, strengthens business relationships and encourages farmers to view agriculture as a viable business.
Eni disclosed that a key outcome of the meeting was the facilitation of intent agreements among farmer groups, input suppliers, service providers and financial institutions.
He said that the project targets 100,000 farmers, comprising 50 per cent women, 40 per cent youth and five per cent persons with disabilities.
The coordinator added that the project covers eight Local Government Areas in Niger, namely Bosso, Lavun, Lapai, Paikoro, Gurara, Bida, Wushishi and Agaie.
He further said that extension agents and Community-Based Advisors had been trained to support farmers with access to quality inputs, improved agronomic practices, harvesting, storage and market linkages.
Eni noted that agro-dealers and input suppliers had also received training on improved seeds, fertilisers and safe use of agrochemicals, while farmers were trained on modern practices, post-harvest handling and enterprise management.
Speaking, Alhaji Adamu Yahaya, Director of Produce and Pest Control, Niger Ministry of Agriculture, decried the prevalence of fake and adulterated agrochemicals in the state.
Yahaya said the ministry had established a task force to monitor and regulate the activities of agrochemical dealers.
“Farmers have suffered losses due to fake products. We have seized and destroyed counterfeit agrochemicals worth about N100 million and prosecuted offenders,” he said.
Also, Mr Abubakar Kolo, a farmer from Bosso Local Government Area, commended the initiative, describing it as timely and impactful.
He said that the engagement had improved his knowledge of accessing genuine farm inputs.
“We spend a lot on inputs but do not always get good yields. This engagement has shown us how to identify quality products,” he said.
Similarly, Mrs Blessing Joy, a Community-Based Advisor, said the rising cost of fertilisers and limited access to genuine inputs remained major challenges for farmers. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Isaac Ukpoju
