The Federal Government has officially commenced a significant intervention initiative aimed at revitalising onion farming in Northern Nigeria. The first phase of the National Agricultural Development Fund's (NADF) Onion Intervention Programme was launched in Sokoto State over the weekend.
Support for Farmers Hit by Climate Challenges
This critical programme is designed specifically to assist onion farmers who have suffered severe losses due to recent flooding and other climate-related disruptions. The Executive Secretary of NADF, Muhammad Ibrahim, highlighted that farmers in Sokoto, Kebbi, Yobe, and Borno states were among the hardest hit, with disasters damaging livelihoods and affecting national food supply chains.
Represented by the agency’s Assistant General Secretary, Muazu Ibrahim, at the launch event, he described the onion value chain as vital for both rural economies and Nigeria's food security. The intervention is intended to enable affected farmers to resume their agricultural activities without further delay, directly supporting President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for agricultural development.
Transparent Distribution of Farm Inputs
The programme, implemented in collaboration with state governments and stakeholders, began with the distribution of essential farm inputs. Muhammad Ibrahim assured all beneficiaries that the process would be guided by principles of transparency, accountability, and fairness. He confirmed that all inputs had been verified to ensure they reach genuine, affected farmers.
Isa Aliyu, the President of the National Onion Producers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NOPPMAN), welcomed the initiative, calling it timely. He noted it would help farmers recover from the dual blows of flooding and the use of poor-quality seeds during the 2024 farming season.
Direct Impact: 600 Sokoto Farmers to Benefit
A key detail of the launch reveals the immediate scope of the project. Aliyu disclosed that 600 onion farmers in Sokoto State are set to benefit from this initial phase. These farmers will cultivate a total of 300 hectares, with each beneficiary allocated 0.5 hectares of farmland.
He commended the Sokoto State government for providing crucial logistics, security, and an enabling environment for the programme's smooth take-off. The state's Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Agriculture, Almustapha Alkali, added that proper utilisation of the inputs should significantly boost onion production for the 2025/2026 farming season.
Alkali also pointed to the state's recent commissioning of a modern onion storage facility as a complementary measure to reduce post-harvest losses, preserve produce, and ultimately improve farmers' incomes. Stakeholders at the event expressed strong optimism that the intervention would successfully revitalise onion farming in Sokoto and contribute to improved food security nationwide.
This government action comes at a crucial time. Reports indicate that onion farmers had predicted a steep rise in prices ahead of the Christmas period due to strong seasonal demand and limited supply. This NADF intervention is therefore expected to help stabilise the market and ease potential price hikes in the coming days by restoring production capacity.
