Some 88,000 agricultural producers in Nasarawa, Niger, and other areas will receive farming supplies and equipment.

One Acre Fund Nigeria, a social enterprise dedicated to supporting smallholder farmers, has successfully delivered 9,000 tonnes of essential agricultural inputs on credit to 88,000 participating farmers, in preparation for the upcoming planting season, with the beneficiaries hailing from Nasarawa, Niger, Kwara, and Plateau states.

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The organisation's initiative is specifically designed to tackle the persistent issues of limited credit access and inefficient distribution, which have a direct impact on national food security, according to information gathered by Arewa PUNCH.

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The phased distribution of the agricultural inputs is currently underway, with the goal of completing the process by May 31, 2026, as reported by the organisation's Communications Lead, Kazi Nanyah, in a statement released in Lafia, the capital of Nasarawa State, on Thursday.

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According to Nanyah, the programme is structured to drive significant yield improvements, with participating farmers often experiencing a near doubling of maize yields and an average income increase of approximately $328 per household per season.

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The integrated support model employed by the organisation combines input credit with agronomic training, advisory, and digital services, all of which are delivered directly to farming communities, as explained by Nanyah, who highlighted the importance of this approach in minimising reliance on intermediaries and ensuring timely access to inputs.

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The programme prioritises inclusion, with women and youth accounting for over 35 per cent of the participating farmers, demonstrating the organisation's commitment to supporting diverse groups of farmers.

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Keziah Danjuma, a 24-year-old maize farmer from Pyatta village in Niger State, shared her success story, stating that since she started working with One Acre Fund, she has been able to receive quality seed and fertiliser on credit in her village, resulting in a near doubling of her maize yield and increased income.

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Nanyah outlined the three key areas of focus for One Acre Fund Nigeria's integrated support, which include Driving Productivity, building resilience, and strengthening markets, all of which are designed to support smallholder farmers in improving their livelihoods.

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As a social enterprise, One Acre Fund is dedicated to providing smallholder farmers with access to financing, quality agricultural inputs, training, and market linkages, as explained by Nanyah, who highlighted the organisation's mission and objectives.

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Since its launch in Nigeria in 2018, the programme has grown to serve over 600,000 farmers across Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, and Plateau states, helping them to increase their productivity, resilience, and income, as noted by Nanyah.

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As Nigeria enters the 2026 planting season, the country's food system continues to face structural constraints, including rising input costs and limited access to agricultural finance, which directly impact the productivity and vulnerability of smallholder farmers, according to Nanyah.

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Against this backdrop, One Acre Fund Nigeria has initiated the distribution of 9,000 tonnes of agricultural inputs to 88,000 farmers across Nasarawa, Kwara, Niger, and Plateau states, providing a practical solution to addressing systemic bottlenecks that have long constrained smallholder productivity.

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The current rollout of 9,000 tonnes of inputs is expected to reach 88,000 farmers ahead of peak planting, with distribution scheduled for completion by May 31, 2026, as stated by Nanyah, who also noted that programme data indicates participating farmers frequently achieve near doubling of maize yields under comparable conditions.

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In addition to the yield improvements, average income gains for participating farmers are estimated at approximately $328 per household per season, as pointed out by Nanyah, highlighting the positive impact of the programme on the livelihoods of smallholder farmers.