To support onion farmers in Sokoto State recovering from losses caused by flooding and climate-related challenges, the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) has flagged off the first phase of its Onion Intervention Programme in the state.
The programme was officially launched at the weekend by the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of NADF, Muhammad Ibrahim, who was represented by the agency’s Assistant General Secretary, Muazu Ibrahim. The initiative is designed to restore farmers’ production capacity and strengthen resilience across the onion value chain.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, Ibrahim noted that onion farmers in Sokoto, Kebbi, Yobe and Borno states were among the hardest hit by recent flooding, which disrupted livelihoods, local markets and national food supply.
“The onion value chain is strategic to rural livelihoods and food security. This intervention is a deliberate step to ensure affected farmers return to their farms without delay,” he said.
He explained that the programme, implemented in collaboration with state governments and key stakeholders, commenced with the distribution of critical farm inputs to affected farmers. According to him, the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises agricultural recovery, food security and rural economic empowerment.
Ibrahim assured beneficiaries that the intervention would be guided by transparency, accountability and equity, adding that all inputs had been properly verified to ensure they reach genuine farmers.
Also speaking at the event, President of the National Onion Producers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NOPPMAN), Isa Aliyu, described the intervention as timely, saying it would help farmers recover from the combined effects of flooding and the use of poor-quality seeds during the 2024 farming season.
Aliyu disclosed that 600 farmers in Sokoto State would benefit from the programme, cultivating a total of 300 hectares of land, with each farmer allocated 0.5 hectares. He commended the Sokoto State Government for providing logistics, security and an enabling environment that ensured the smooth take-off of the intervention.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Sokoto State Ministry of Agriculture, Almustapha Alkali, said the relief inputs would significantly boost onion production in the 2025/2026 farming season if properly utilised.
He added that the state government’s recent flag-off of a modern onion storage facility would help reduce post-harvest losses, preserve produce and improve farmers’ incomes.
The ceremony marked the formal commencement of the Onion Intervention Programme in Sokoto State, with stakeholders expressing optimism that the initiative would revive the onion subsector, strengthen farmer resilience and contribute meaningfully to national food security.
