Aminu Ya’u transformed rice processing in Kurba, Bauchi State, after FSSS supported his milling enterprise with modern equipment, increasing capacity and creating new opportunities for farmers and youth.


Aminu Ya’u transformed rice processing in Kurba, Bauchi State, after FSSS supported his milling enterprise with modern equipment, increasing capacity and creating new opportunities for farmers and youth.

FSSS has launched GroundBreakers Live 2026, a two-day International Youth Day webinar series connecting young Nigerians with leaders in AgriTECH, agribusiness and innovation to explore emerging opportunities shaping the future of food and sustainable agriculture.

In Chibiyayi, a quiet but vibrant farming community in Bauchi State, a new greenhouse is opening fresh possibilities for vegetable farmers. Through the ESTRRA Project, Abdullahi Ya’u Chibiyayi and his community are witnessing a shift from traditional seedling practices to a more resilient, climate-smart approach to agriculture. The Farmers’ Hub, complete with a greenhouse, is not only improving access to quality seedlings but also strengthening local farming systems and renewing hope for better harvests and stronger livelihoods.

FSSS, with support from the HEINEKEN Africa Foundation, trained Community-Based Organisations in Northern Bauchi on improved seed production under the ESTRRA Project. The initiative aims to strengthen community seed systems, increase access to certified seeds, and equip local organisations with the skills and resources needed to establish sustainable seed enterprises that improve agricultural productivity and resilience.

Meet Mohammed Dahiru Auwal, a young pharmacology graduate and agrochemical dealer from Bulkachuwa, Katagum LGA, whose dream of expanding his family’s agro-input business is becoming a reality through the ESTRRA Project. With support from FSSS and the HEINEKEN Africa Foundation, a rehabilitated agro-store and newly established Farmers’ Hub are helping him serve farmers better while creating new opportunities for his community.

The ESTRRA Project, funded by the Heineken Africa Foundation, has distributed over ₦10 million worth of agro-inputs to six Farmers’ Hubs across Northern Bauchi, improving smallholder farmers’ access to quality agricultural products while strengthening local agricultural service delivery systems and hub management capacity.

Meet Sabiu Adamu, an agro-input dealer from Kurba, Giade LGA, whose business and community are being transformed through the ESTRRA Project’s Farmers’ Hub model. With support from the Foundation for Sustainable Smallholder Solutions (FSSS) and the HEINEKEN Africa Foundation, Sabiu now has access to quality suppliers, stronger market connections, and a community hub that is bringing essential agricultural services closer to farmers.

Six months into implementation, the ESTRRA Project is already transforming livelihoods across Northern Bauchi. Funded by the HEINEKEN Africa Foundation and implemented by FSSS, the initiative is helping thousands of smallholder farmers access agricultural services, expand income opportunities, strengthen rural enterprises and build resilience to climate change. From empowering women and youth to supporting agripreneurs and restoring degraded landscapes, the project is laying the foundation for a more prosperous and sustainable future.

More than 80% of farmers in Northern Bauchi report declining yields as climate change, land degradation, and limited access to agricultural services continue to threaten rural livelihoods. The ESTRRA Baseline Study reveals both the scale of the challenge and the opportunity for transformation through regenerative agriculture, climate-smart farming, stronger seed systems, and inclusive agricultural development.

The Foundation for Sustainable Smallholder Solutions (FSSS), with support from the Heineken Africa Foundation, has commissioned 11 Farmers’ Hubs across Bauchi North to improve agricultural productivity, strengthen climate resilience, and expand economic opportunities for smallholder farmers and rural communities.