The NNPC Foundation, the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arm of NNPC Ltd., has officially rolled out the second phase of its Vulnerable Farmers Training Programme in Northern Nigeria. This initiative is aimed at enhancing food security, promoting economic empowerment, and contributing to the broader goal of national development.
The programme, which kicked off earlier this year with its maiden edition in Southern Nigeria, focuses on equipping smallholder farmers with hands-on knowledge of modern agricultural practices. Areas of training include climate-smart agriculture, organic fertilizer application, strategies to minimize post-harvest losses, and improved methods for accessing profitable markets—all designed to help farmers transition from subsistence farming to sustainable commercial production.
During the first phase, over 4,000 farmers benefitted across the South-East, South-South, and South-West geopolitical zones. Encouraged by this achievement, the second phase is now expanding to cover the North-East, North-West, and North-Central regions, with training activities planned in six states within these zones as well as in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
At the initial flag-off in Nsukka, Enugu State, the Managing Director of the NNPC Foundation emphasized that the programme supports the Federal Government’s agricultural transformation agenda, which prioritizes improved food security, higher productivity, and enhanced livelihoods for farmers nationwide.
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She highlighted that agriculture continues to serve as the primary source of income for more than 70 percent of Nigerians, yet a significant number of farmers remain confined to subsistence farming because of limited access to modern practices, quality inputs, and competitive markets.
According to her, “This training seeks to rewrite that story by empowering farmers with the knowledge, resources, and tools required to achieve sustainable, commercial-scale agriculture.”
Through this new phase, the NNPC Foundation is further demonstrating its dedication to supporting vulnerable farmers and positioning agriculture as a cornerstone for inclusive economic growth across Nigeria.
