Smallholder farmers in Jalingo have been urged to harness the Federal Government's Renewed Hope Smallholder Support and Value Chain Programme to lift agricultural output and strengthen the nation's food security. The Bank of Agriculture and Japtini Food & Retail Company Limited jointly launched the 2026 farming season input distribution in Taraba State on Thursday.
The scheme, funded through the Bank of Agriculture via Farmers Aggregation Companies, equips smallholder farmers with fertilizers, agrochemicals, and improved high-yield seeds to boost production and raise living standards. The inputs are being distributed to over 15,000 farmers across Taraba State.
Hajiya Hauwa Sule Garba, the Bank's North-East Zonal Head of Finance, represented Managing Director Ayo Sotinrin at the flag-off ceremony. Sotinrin said the Bank remained committed to backing farmers as a route to national food security, rural development, and sustainable economic growth.
"Investing in farmers is investing in Nigeria's future. Today, we have a government and an institution genuinely committed to the success of rural farmers," he said.
"This support comes with responsibility. Farm with everything you have.
Apply these inputs correctly, and let your harvest demonstrate that when Nigerian farmers receive the right support, they deliver exceptional results."
The Renewed Hope programme targets two million smallholder farmers nationwide, with plans to roll out more than 10 million bags of fertilizer. The Bank has already financed over 200,000 farmers and deployed more than 1.1 million bags of fertilizer and 16,470 metric tonnes of improved seeds across the country.
Alhaji Tukur Abba Tukur, the Emir of Jalingo, praised the Federal Government and the Bank of Agriculture for bringing the initiative to Taraba. He noted that many beneficiaries are rural women, whose involvement would boost food production and household earnings.
"We in Jalingo and across Taraba State are delighted that the Federal Government, through the Renewed Hope Initiative, has remembered our people with this remarkable intervention aimed at supporting genuine farmers," the Emir stated. He warned beneficiaries against diverting the inputs and pledged close supervision to guarantee the programme achieves its goals.
Iliyasu Mustapha, Taraba State Lead for Japtini Food & Retail Company Limited and Project Coordinator in Jalingo, stressed that accountability and transparency among beneficiaries would shape the initiative's long-term viability. He committed his organisation to ensuring the inputs reach authentic farmers throughout the state.
Beyond providing production materials, the programme offers farmers guaranteed access to buyers for their produce, securing ready markets and improved earnings for participants.
