Soil Values, Agro-Inputs Dealers Launch Entrepreneurship Initiative For Northwest

The Soil Values Programme, in collaboration with the Nigerian Agro-Inputs Dealers Association (NAIDA) Northwest, has launched a new model, a one-stop shop, to strengthen the delivery of inputs to smallholder farmers within the watersheds.

In a speech at the function in Dutse on Friday, the country Coordinator of Soil Values, Mrs Medina Ayuba Fagbemi, said that the nine mobile shops will cover over 20 Northern communities.

She added that the initiative is also expected to reach about 7,000 smallholder farmers across nine LGAs from Kano, Jigawa and Bauchi states, who were trained on business and financial management of the mobile shops.

According to her, the model brings essential inputs such as quality seeds, fertilisers, and crop protection products, closer to farmers through a mobile, market-based delivery system.

The system she explained, that helps farmers adopt the most improved and impactful practices while reducing access barriers such as distance, transport cost and fragmented supply.

“It integrates agronomic advisory services, soil testing and digital profiling of farmers, ensuring that input distribution is accompanied by knowledge and data-driven recommendations, for improved soil health and productivity.

“By linking farmers, agro-dealers, and other value chain actors, the model promotes inclusive access, market efficiency, and sustainable soil management practices, contributing to resilient livelihoods and the overall objectives of the Soil Values Program.

“I commend all the trained agropreneurs and extension agents for their commitment and enthusiasm in embracing this innovative model,” the coordinator said.

She tasked them on upholding the principles of integrity, service, and inclusiveness, as they deliver on the initiative’s vision, to make agricultural inputs accessible, affordable, and impactful for every smallholder farmer.

Earlier, the Vice President Northwest, NAIDA, Engr. Abdullahi Muhammed, urged the beneficiaries to be good ambassadors of the project.

He appealed to them to uphold and implement the recommendations of the 3-day training they have received by various resource persons.

In his remarks, the Director, Jigawa State Agricultural Transformation Agency, Dr Saifullahi Umar, commended the initiative.

He expressed gratitude that Jigawa happened to be amongst the benefitting states of the new model.

Dr Umar assured the support of the state government, in achieving the set objective, thus pledged the commitment of the Namadi administration’s support to agricultural transformation.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mr Mathew Zaki and Mr Tasiu Muhammed, pledged proper utilization of the mobile shops.

They pledged to utilize the skills learnt during the three days if the training, on best practices of using the models.

Meanwhile, the secretary of NAIDA Northwest, Muhammed Auwal, tasked the beneficiaries with effective utilisation.

He reminded them that NAIDA will provide effective and close monitoring for the ethical use of mobile shops in the respective designated centres.

The Soil Values Program is a €100 million 10-year program, funded by the Directorate for International Cooperation of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

It is being implemented in Northern Nigeria, Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso to improve soil fertility, decrease yield gaps and increase the resilience to climate shocks of 1.5 million smallholder farmers and restoration of 2 million Ha of degraded lands.

In Northern Nigeria, over a 10-year period, the program aims to reach 600,000 SHF, including women and youths, to restore 800,000 Ha of degraded lands.

The program is implemented by a consortium, led by the International Fertiliser Development Centre (IFDC) and comprising SNV and Wageningen University & Research in the Netherlands, with support from knowledge partners, namely IITA, AGRA, ICRAF, IWMI and ISRIC.