The Soil Values Programme, in collaboration with the Nigerian Agro-Inputs Dealers Association (NAIDA), North-West zone, has introduced a one-stop mobile shop model to improve access to agricultural inputs for smallholder farmers within watershed communities.
Country Coordinator of the programme, Mrs. Medina Ayuba Fagbemi, said the nine mobile shops will serve over 20 communities across northern Nigeria.
She explained that the initiative is expected to reach about 7,000 smallholder farmers across nine Local Government Areas in Kano, Jigawa, and Bauchi states, who have also received training on business and financial management for operating the shops.
Fagbemi noted that the model brings essential inputs including quality seeds, fertilizers, and crop protection products closer to farmers through a mobile, market-based delivery system.
She added that the system is designed to help farmers adopt improved and more productive agricultural practices while reducing barriers such as distance, transportation costs, and fragmented supply chains.
“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.
Medina commend all the trained agropreneurs and extension agents for their commitment and enthusiasm in embracing this innovative model.
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, Engineer 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.
Saifullahi 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 Malam 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, Mr Muhammed Auwal, the Secretary NAIDA Northwest, tasked the beneficiaries on effective utilisation.
He reminded them that NAIDA will provide effective and close monitoring for the ethical utilization of the mobile shops in the respective designation centres.
Soil Values Program is a €100 million 10-year program, funded by the Directorate for International Cooperation of the Kingdom of 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 Hectres of degraded lands.
The program is implemented by a consortium, led by the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC) and comprising of SNV and Wageningen University & Research in the Netherlands, with support from knowledge partners namely IITA, AGRA, ICRAF, IWMI and ISRIC.
Usman Mohammed
