Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Jibrin Barau, has announced a ₦2.79 billion loan scheme to support farmers across Kano, Jigawa, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, and Zamfara states in the North-West.
Speaking through his Special Adviser on Policy and Monitoring, Professor Bashir Muhammad Fage, at a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, Barau emphasized that food security remains a top priority for progressive nations.
“Without food security, we are vulnerable at every level—individual, family, local government, state, and national. Decades ago, the North, especially the North-West, was Nigeria’s food hub, producing most of the country’s agricultural products for both domestic consumption and export. However, that is no longer the case,” he stated.
To revive the region’s agricultural strength, Barau has launched the Barau Initiative for Agricultural Revolution in the North-West, targeting 500 young farmers in the first phase of the program.
Loan Disbursement Plan
The initiative, executed through Barau Agricultural Foundation in partnership with national financial institutions, aims to provide financial assistance to farmers ahead of the 2025 planting season.
Under the scheme, each selected farmer will receive ₦5 million to invest in rice and maize cultivation. The breakdown of beneficiaries across the six states includes:
- Kano – 133 beneficiaries
- Kaduna – 69 beneficiaries
- Kebbi – 63 beneficiaries
- Katsina – 102 beneficiaries
- Jigawa – 81 beneficiaries
- Sokoto – 69 beneficiaries
- Zamfara – 42 beneficiaries
The initiative is set to be fully launched in April 2025, in time for the farming season.
Boosting Food Production and Economic Growth
Barau noted that the program aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s New Hope Agenda, which prioritizes agriculture as a key driver of economic growth and food security.
“In 2023, Nigeria produced about 8.9 million metric tons of rice, the highest since 2010. However, this is still insufficient to meet the demands of our rapidly growing population. Through this initiative, we aim to significantly boost maize and rice production, stabilize food prices, and ensure year-round food availability,” he explained.
Farmers selected for the scheme will also receive technical guidance to enhance their productivity and maximize crop yields.
The Barau Initiative for Agricultural Revolution marks a major step toward revitalizing North-Western Nigeria’s agricultural sector, restoring its historical role as the nation’s food basket.
