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The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to empowering smallholder farmers across the country under the Renewed Hope Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP 3.0), with a renewed push on the FarmerMoni scheme aimed at boosting agricultural productivity and strengthening food security.
This assurance was conveyed during a high-level media and sensitisation programme held in Jigawa State for the North-West zone, where the National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), Assoc. Prof. Badamasi Lawal, represented by the National Programme Manager of GEEP, Hon. Hamza Baba, underscored the administration’s resolve to sustain targeted financial interventions for farmers.
The event brought together key stakeholders, including government officials, traditional and community leaders, implementation partners, members of the media, and beneficiaries of the FarmerMoni initiative, in a coordinated effort to deepen awareness and reinforce accountability within the programme.
Speaking at the event, Lawal described the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme FarmerMoni as a critical pillar of the administration’s agricultural support framework. He noted that the initiative is designed to enable smallholder farmers expand production, improve yields, and contribute meaningfully to national food security objectives.
According to him, the sensitisation exercise specifically targeted registered and revalidated beneficiaries, providing them with detailed guidance on the appropriate utilisation of funds, adherence to accountability standards, and the importance of timely loan repayment to ensure the sustainability of the revolving fund mechanism.
He emphasised that FarmerMoni is not a grant but a recoverable loan scheme, stressing that beneficiaries are required to channel the funds directly into viable agricultural ventures such as crop cultivation, livestock rearing, and poultry production. He further explained that the programme incorporates a flexible moratorium and repayment structure tailored to agricultural cycles, allowing farmers adequate time for cultivation and harvest before repayment obligations commence.
Lawal disclosed that NSIPA has deployed a robust monitoring and evaluation framework, including the GEEP Dashboard, to track beneficiary performance, ensure transparency, and provide necessary support where required. He noted that this system is intended to guarantee proper utilisation of funds while strengthening institutional accountability.
The programme also drew lessons from Jigawa State’s successful goat empowerment scheme, which adopts an asset-based model combining livestock provision with cooperative structures, veterinary services, training, and market linkages. NSIPA signalled plans to integrate similar practical elements into the FarmerMoni initiative by bundling financial support with productive inputs and assets, enhancing group accountability, and introducing simplified asset verification mechanisms.
“This programme is not a handout. It is a structured financial support system designed to grow your agricultural enterprise,” Lawal stated, urging beneficiaries to demonstrate discipline and integrity in managing the funds. He added that effective utilisation would not only improve individual livelihoods but also advance the broader national objective of achieving food security.
Also speaking, the Jigawa State Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Special Duties welcomed participants and reaffirmed the state government’s alignment with federal agricultural interventions. He commended Governor Malam Umar A. Namadi for sustained investments in irrigation infrastructure, mechanised farming, and access to high-quality inputs, noting that these complementary efforts enhance the impact of federal credit schemes.
The Commissioner reiterated that FarmerMoni remains a repayable facility and encouraged beneficiaries to adopt modern agricultural practices while utilising the funds prudently to boost productivity and household income.
Both NSIPA and Jigawa State authorities jointly called on beneficiaries to strictly apply funds to designated agricultural activities, adhere to agreed moratorium and repayment timelines, engage extension services and cooperative platforms for technical support, and cooperate fully with monitoring processes to ensure the long-term sustainability of the programme.
The sensitisation campaign marks a significant step in consolidating the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, with a clear focus on transforming smallholder agriculture into a viable engine for economic growth and national development.
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