Nigerian Onion Farmers Receive ₦1.6bn Input Support

News in brief:

—NOPPMAN secured ₦1.6 billion in input support for onion farmers in four northern states through NADF.

—The association also backed cold storage expansion, anti-counterfeit seed enforcement and flood recovery support for farmers.

The National Onion Producers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NOPPMAN) announced that it has facilitated a ₦1.6 billion agricultural input support package for onion farmers in Sokoto, Kebbi, Borno and Yobe states.

Alhaji Aliyu Isah, president of NOPPMAN, disclosed this during the association’s National Executive Council meeting held recently in Abuja.

According to Isah, the support package was provided by the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) and distributed to farmers in November 2025. The intervention included improved seeds, fertilisers and agrochemicals aimed at stabilising onion production and reducing price volatility across key producing states.

“We distributed inputs to 2,000 onion farmers in Sokoto, Kebbi, Yobe and Borno states in 2025. The intention was to support them against losses incurred from floods and climate-related shocks,” NADF Executive Secretary, Mohammed Ibrahim, stated through his representative, Mr Samuel Aende.

NOPPMAN Outlines Additional Farmer Support Programmes

Isah disclosed that the association also facilitated over ₦500 million in agricultural input support from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS) for farmers in Gombe and Kano states.

The inputs, distributed in October 2024, included certified seeds, agrochemicals, liquid fertilisers and knapsack sprayers designed to improve productivity among smallholder onion farmers.

He further revealed that NOPPMAN mobilised additional support packages comprising solar pumps, onion dryers, seeds, agrochemicals and power tillers for farmers in Sokoto State to improve mechanisation and post-harvest management.

The association also facilitated compensation support from BUA Cement for onion farmers affected by flooding in Wamakko Local Government Area of Sokoto State between 2024 and 2026.

According to Isah, the financial intervention helped restore livelihoods and support recovery efforts among displaced farmers.

NOPPMAN also commended members who collaborated with the National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC) in prosecuting importers of counterfeit seeds between 2024 and 2026.

Isah said the successful prosecution of offenders had strengthened farmers’ confidence in certified seed supply chains and discouraged seed adulteration within the sector.

Kano Storage Facility to Reduce Post-Harvest Losses

The association additionally partnered with Prism Foods to unveil what it described as the largest onion storage facility in Kano in April 2025.

The cold-chain facility, inaugurated by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, is expected to reduce post-harvest losses and improve market stability for onion producers and traders.

Speaking at the meeting, the Deputy Director of the Federal Department of Horticulture, Mrs Afusatu Babalola, described the onion sub-sector as critical to food security, employment generation and regional trade.

She commended producers and marketers for sustaining production despite prevailing economic and agricultural challenges.

“We are particularly encouraged by the association’s commitment towards improving production, post-harvest handling, storage infrastructure, value addition and export development,” she said.

Babalola stressed that stronger collaboration between government institutions and commodity associations remains essential for sustainable agricultural development and national food security.