Bauchi Sets Up Committee to Distribute Grants, Starter Packs as FCT Farmers Protest Fertiliser Delay.

Farmers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have expressed frustration over the delayed distribution of 6,800 bags of free fertiliser earmarked for the 2026 wet farming season, while the governments of Bauchi and Borno states have launched new initiatives to support farmers and boost agricultural productivity.

The affected farmers, under the umbrella of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), accused the FCT Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat of withholding the fertiliser, which was supplied about a month ago by the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) through the Renewed Hope Farm Input Support Program (FISP).

Speaking in Abuja, FCT AFAN Chairman, Dr. Perpetual Okafor, said the association had given the secretariat until the end of the week to release the fertiliser to the approved beneficiaries.

She explained that the delay is negatively affecting farmers who depend on the subsidised inputs to maximise crop production during the current rainy season.

According to Okafor, AFAN had already submitted the list of eligible beneficiaries and confirmed that the fertiliser had been delivered to the secretariat’s warehouse. However, repeated efforts to engage officials and facilitate its distribution have not yielded results.

She added that the prolonged delay has led some farmers to wrongly accuse the association of withholding the fertiliser, resulting in protests despite AFAN’s continued engagement with government officials.

Okafor warned that if the fertiliser is not distributed soon, it may no longer be useful for this year’s farming season, noting that the program was officially launched on 25 June 2026.

While farmers in the FCT await the release of the fertiliser, the Borno State Government, in collaboration with the North East Development Commission (NEDC), has commenced the distribution of free fertiliser to 1,000 vulnerable women farmers.

Launching the program in Maiduguri, Borno State First Lady, Prof. Falmata Babagana Zulum, described the initiative as part of the state’s broader strategy to promote women’s economic empowerment through agriculture.

She said providing women farmers with essential agricultural inputs would increase crop yields, improve household incomes and contribute to sustainable agricultural development across Borno State and the wider North-East region.

Prof. Zulum also acknowledged the challenges many women face in accessing quality farming inputs despite their significant contributions to crop production, food processing, livestock farming and agricultural trade.

Meanwhile, the Bauchi State Government has begun implementing another phase of its agricultural empowerment programme by disbursing ₦625 million in grants to 1,250 youths and women who completed agricultural skills training in 2025.

Each beneficiary will receive ₦500,000 to establish or expand an agribusiness, while the state has also constituted a committee to oversee the screening of beneficiaries and the distribution of starter packs and financial support.

In addition, the government has introduced a subsidised fertiliser scheme under which farmers can purchase NPK fertiliser at ₦20,000 per bag, significantly below the prevailing market price of ₦38,000.

Speaking during the launch of the initiative in Bununu, Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area, Governor Bala Mohammed warned officials against diverting, hoarding or manipulating the distribution of the subsidised fertiliser.

He said the intervention is intended to reduce production costs, minimise post-harvest losses, improve farmers’ incomes and strengthen rural economies while supporting the state’s efforts to enhance food security and agricultural development.