BAUCHI, NIGERIA – Bauchi State Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed has lauded the Foundation for Sustainable Smallholder Solutions (FSSS) and the Heineken Africa Foundation (HAF) for launching the ₦4 billion Empowerment of Smallholders to Thrive and Build Climate Resilience through Regenerative Agriculture (ESTRRA) project.
The launch, held at Yimir Hotels and Suites, New GRA, Bauchi State, will directly benefit 14,000 smallholder farmers and indirectly support over 70,000 community members across seven Local Government Areas in Bauchi North.
The initiative comes as farmers in Nigeria face increasingly erratic rainfall and rising temperatures, with the Nigerian Meteorological Agency reporting a 15–20% decline in maize and sorghum yields in the North-East over the past five years. Globally, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that climate change could reduce cereal production in Africa by up to 20% by 2050, making climate-smart interventions like ESTRRA critical for food security and rural livelihoods.
The governor, represented by the Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Iliyasu Aliyu Gital, described FSSS as “an organisation which transitioned from the Syngenta Foundation to FSSS, with the key words ‘Sustainable’ and ‘Solutions’ reflecting the mission and vision of the foundation. The ESTRRA project is sustainable because it impacts the lives of smallholders and ensures that sustainability drives solutions.”
Describing government efforts to promote agriculture, Dr. Gital stated: “The Bauchi State Government has continued to invest in agriculture through access roads and other critical infrastructure. This project will strengthen productivity, address unemployment, and boost economic growth in Bauchi North.”
Speaking earlier, the Executive Director of FSSS, Dr. Isaiah Gabriel, said the project focuses on empowering farmers beyond immediate yields. “Climate change has introduced uncertainty where there should be stability. Through ESTRRA, we are placing smallholder farmers at the centre of innovation,” he said.
He added: “Our goal is not only to improve yields but to build confident, profitable, and resilient farmers long after the project cycle ends. Women and young people are at the heart of this intervention because the future of agriculture depends on their creativity, strength, and enterprise.”
Isaiah maintained that the three-year initiative will directly reach 14,000 farmers and indirectly benefit more than 70,000 community members across Katagum, Shira, Jama’are, Giade, Itas-Gadau, Zaki, and Gamawa of Bauchi North.
‘’The program targets a minimum 30% increase in farmers’ incomes, with immediate milestones including the establishment of two seed companies and the rollout of 14 farmers’ hubs by mid-2026’’, he revealed.
Representing Nigerian Breweries Plc and the Heineken Africa Foundation, Mr. Chukwuemeka Aniukwu, Head of Public, External & Government Affairs, highlighted the strategic nature of the investment.
“Today marks more than the launch of a project. It represents our shared commitment to people, livelihoods, and long-term prosperity. Bauchi is richly blessed with fertile land and hardworking farmers, and we are investing to help them thrive,” he said.
Dr. Reuben Solomon of FSSS outlined the technical plan, noting that 87% of farmers in Bauchi lack access to extension services.
“We will address this through structured farmer’ hubs, seed system strengthening, economic and nutritional empowerment, and capacity building,” he said.
Delivering goodwill messages, Prof. Lucky Omoigui of the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and Prof. Sanusi Gaya Mohammed of Bayero University Kano (BUK) pledged technical support towards the project.
While endorsing the project, Traditional rulers Alhaji Liman Bello, representing the Emir of Katagum, promised full cooperation from local communities, while the Mainan Bauchi, representing the Emir of Bauchi, said the project would significantly reduce poverty across the North-East and Nigeria.
Past beneficiaries from Kano, Jigawa, and Kaduna shared success stories from previous FSSS projects, showing measurable improvements in productivity, income, and food security, reinforcing the promise of ESTRRA to transform smallholder farming into a viable economic enterprise.
The project is being implemented in partnership with research institutes (ICRISAT, IITA, Centre for Dryland Agriculture, BUK), NGOs (Purity Heritage Links, Rhizosphere Agro), and private-sector agro firms (OCP Africa, RoyalBlue Contractors), ensuring technical expertise, community engagement, and market access for farmers.
View photos from ESTRRA Launch Event
