Nigeria agricultural initiatives support disabled persons and smallholder farmers

Agricultural empowerment initiatives are expanding across Nigeria, targeting both persons with disabilities and smallholder farmers to improve economic self-reliance and food security.

In Bauchi State, the Agency for Persons with Disabilities has distributed agricultural inputs and empowerment support to 120 individuals across 20 Local Government Areas. Supported by the Bauchi State Government and the Office of the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, the program aims to foster economic inclusion. The agency’s Executive Secretary, Hon. Brisca Joran Aarom, noted that the administration is also working toward transforming the agency into a commission to strengthen representation.

In Benue State, the Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA), with support from the Nippon Foundation, has implemented interventions benefiting nearly 9,000 smallholder farmers across eight Local Government Areas. The project focuses on transitioning farmers from subsistence to commercial, market-oriented production of crops such as soybean, maize, and rice. The initiative emphasizes climate-smart and regenerative practices, including the use of compost and improved crop varieties to enhance soil health and reduce reliance on inorganic fertilizers.