NNPC Empowers 6,000 farmers to Fight Food Crisis

News in brief:

-The NNPC Foundation is training 700 farmers in North-Central Nigeria on modern techniques such as climate-smart agriculture, soil health, irrigation, and market access, as part of its plan to support 6,000 farmers nationwide.

-The programme targets vulnerable farmers, helping them move from subsistence to commercial farming, improve yields, and reduce Nigeria’s reliance on food imports.

As food prices continue to strain households across Nigeria, the NNPC Foundation has rolled out a farmer training programme targeting vulnerable groups in the North-Central region. The initiative, part of its broader Corporate Social Responsibility efforts, aims to equip 6,000 farmers nationwide with modern skills to improve yields, boost income, and strengthen food security.

Training Designed for Real Challenges

At the launch in Bwari, Abuja, the Foundation’s Managing Director, Mrs Emmanuella Arukwe, explained that the initiative addresses critical challenges facing Nigerian farmers. These include poor access to quality seedlings, low yields, climate change, lack of modern tools, and transportation difficulties that often prevent farmers from taking produce to market.

“We want to move our farmers from subsistence to commercial scale production,” Arukwe said. “By teaching climate-smart agriculture, soil health, irrigation, and post-harvest management, we can reduce losses, increase productivity, and create long-term food security for Nigeria.”

Farmers Gain Hands-On Knowledge

No fewer than 700 farmers participated in the three-day North-Central training session held between September 12 and 14. Earlier in the month, farmers from Kogi, Kwara, and Benue States had undergone similar training. Participants are learning practical techniques such as soil fertility management, water use efficiency, climate adaptation strategies, and how to add value to crops like cassava and ginger.

Dr Dan Ozokwor, one of the training consultants, noted that farmers were being exposed to climate-smart technologies that can enable all-year-round production despite unpredictable rainfall patterns. “This is crucial because climate change is one of the biggest threats to farming today,” he said.

From Knowledge to Action

The Foundation’s approach goes beyond training. Participants will also receive agricultural starter packs to help them immediately put into practice what they have learned. Officials say this will empower farmers to grow more food, cut reliance on imports, and potentially open doors for food exports.

Alhaji Abdullahi Suleiman, Mandate Secretary for Agriculture and Food Security in the FCT, praised the initiative, describing it as “a timely and well-thought-out intervention” that strengthens local food production.

Building Long-Term Impact

Farmers themselves welcomed the programme. Mr Bakoshi Chori, leader of the Bwari Ginger Farmers Co-operative Society, said the training would improve both knowledge and output. “We are grateful for this opportunity and we will put what we have learned into practice,” he assured.

The first phase of the programme, which began in the southern regions earlier this year, already reached over 4,000 farmers with new techniques and market-access strategies. With the expansion to the North-Central zone, the NNPC Foundation is positioning itself as a key player in Nigeria’s agricultural development, focusing on sustainability rather than short-term relief.

"It is better to teach people how to grow food than to only feed them. This is how we can create lasting change," Arukwe summed it up simply.