BOA, Japtini Launch Farm Input Distribution for 15,000 Taraba Farmers
The Bank of Agriculture (BOA), in partnership with Japtini Food & Retail Company Limited, has officially flagged off the distribution of farm inputs to over 15,000 smallholder farmers in Taraba State under the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Smallholder Support and Value Chain Programme.
The flag-off ceremony, held in Jalingo, marked the commencement of the 2026 farming season intervention aimed at improving agricultural productivity, strengthening food security, and boosting rural livelihoods.
The programme, financed by the Bank of Agriculture through Farmers Aggregation Companies (FACs), provides beneficiaries with fertilizers, agrochemicals, and improved high-yield seedlings to support increased crop production.
Speaking at the event through the Bank’s North-East Zonal Head of Finance, Hajiya Hauwa Sule Garba, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Bank of Agriculture, Mr. Ayo Sotinrin, urged farmers to make proper use of the inputs, describing agriculture as a key driver of Nigeria’s food security and economic growth.
He said the Federal Government and the Bank remain committed to empowering rural farmers, stressing that the support should translate into improved harvests and higher productivity.
According to Sotinrin, the Renewed Hope Smallholder Support and Value Chain Programme is expected to reach two million smallholder farmers nationwide, with plans to distribute more than 10 million bags of fertilizer. He disclosed that over 200,000 farmers have already been financed, while more than 1.1 million bags of fertilizer and 16,470 metric tonnes of improved seeds have been distributed across the country.
He added that more than 15,000 farmers in Taraba State are benefiting from the programme through Japtini Food & Retail Company Limited.
The Emir of Jalingo, Alhaji Tukur Abba Tukur, commended the Federal Government and the Bank of Agriculture for extending the intervention to Taraba State, noting that many of the beneficiaries are rural women whose participation will enhance food production and improve household incomes.
He urged beneficiaries not to divert the inputs, assuring that the programme would be closely monitored to ensure it achieves its objectives.
Also speaking, the Taraba State Lead for Japtini Food & Retail Company Limited and Project Coordinator in Jalingo, Mr. Iliyasu Mustapha, stressed the importance of accountability and transparency among beneficiaries. He assured that the company would ensure the farm inputs reach genuine farmers across the state.
In addition to supplying production inputs, the programme also guarantees participating farmers access to reliable offtakers for their produce, providing a ready market for harvested crops and helping to improve farmers’ incomes.
