By Musa Ubandawaki, Sokoto

SOKOTO:–The National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) has commended the distribution of essential agricultural inputs to 2,000 onion farmers in Sokoto State, describing the intervention as a decisive move by the Federal Government to reduce post-harvest losses and strengthen Nigeria’s food system.

The Executive Secretary of NADF, Muhammad Abu Ibrahim, made this known on Sunday during the input distribution exercise in Sokoto. Represented by a Director at the Fund, Mr. Mu’azu Ibrahim, he identified post-harvest losses as one of the most critical challenges undermining agricultural productivity and farmers’ incomes nationwide.

He explained that the support was aimed at cushioning the impact of losses suffered by onion farmers as a result of poor seedlings and other production-related constraints, stressing that sustained interventions were necessary to stabilise and grow the sector.

Abu Ibrahim reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to tackling underinvestment in agriculture, assuring that more measures would be implemented to de-risk the sector and attract increased investment. He noted that the current focus was on identifying key risk factors and creating an enabling environment capable of driving sustainable agricultural growth.

In his remarks, the Sokoto State Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Tukur Alkali, commended the Federal Government for the intervention, describing it as a lifeline for smallholder farmers who remain central to food production and security in the state.

Also speaking, the Sokoto State Government, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Almustapha Alkali, pledged continued collaboration with the Federal Government and other agricultural stakeholders to promote agricultural value chains, stimulate economic growth, create employment opportunities and reduce poverty.

The Project Coordinator of the Sokoto State Agricultural Development Project, Alhaji Abubakar Danmaliki, described the support as timely and crucial, particularly for smallholder farming groups facing rising production costs and other operational challenges.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, the President of the Onion Farmers, Producers and Marketers Association, Alhaji Aliyu Maitasamu, said genuine onion farmers were captured in the exercise. He noted that the support would provide much-needed relief in view of the difficulties encountered during the previous farming season and expressed optimism that it would significantly improve productivity and farmers’ livelihoods across Sokoto State.