The All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) has said federal government interventions in fertiliser and other farm inputs have improved agricultural productivity and strengthened farmers’ livelihoods in Kano State.
AFAN Secretary in Kano, Saleh Maigari-Tumfafi, disclosed this in an interview on Wednesday, speaking on behalf of the association’s chairman, Sani Abubakar-Kofarmata.
Maigari-Tumfafi said the interventions had increased farmers’ access to fertiliser, seeds, agrochemicals and farm equipment at subsidised rates.
He said thousands of farmers benefited from fertiliser and seed distributions under the National Agricultural Growth Scheme-Agro-Pocket programme in 2023 and 2024.
According to him, wheat farmers received seedlings, fertiliser and agrochemicals at a 50 per cent subsidy in December 2023, while similar support was provided to wheat farmers in December 2024 under national agricultural development initiatives.
He added that rice farmers received free fertiliser and seedlings in June and July 2024.
“Rice, maize, sorghum and millet farmers also received fertiliser, seeds and agrochemicals at 50 per cent subsidy between August and September 2024,” he said.
Maigari-Tumfafi said more than 42,000 bags of fertiliser were distributed to farmers in 2025, with each beneficiary receiving two bags free of charge under a programme supported by the Central Bank of Nigeria.
He added that more than 20,000 bags of fertiliser were distributed in 2026 through the National Agricultural Development Fund and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
“About 5,040 farmers benefited, with each farmer receiving four bags of fertiliser free of charge,” he said.
The AFAN official said about 80 cooperative groups and farmers’ associations also benefited from free fertiliser, farm inputs and equipment.
The support, he said, included pesticides, sprayers, power tillers, herbicides, liquid fertilisers and water pumps, among others.
According to him, the interventions had improved farmers’ access to inputs, increased productivity and encouraged more people, particularly youths, to take up farming.
“Some farmers who suffered losses have returned to farming because of the support, which is helping to sustain food production,” he said.
Maigari-Tumfafi said the Federal Government had also responded to farmers’ complaints over crop diseases, citing interventions for sugarcane farmers affected by stem borers and tomato farmers affected by Tuta absoluta.
He said the interventions had contributed to greater self-reliance, employment opportunities and increased economic activities in both rural and urban communities.
However, he called for increased investment in rural infrastructure, warehouses and processing clusters, as well as affordable single-digit interest loans for farmers.
(NAN)