Benue State, Nigeria – April 9, 2025 – The Foundation for Sustainable Smallholder Solutions (FSSS), in partnership with OCP Africa, Africa’s leading fertiliser producer, has officially launched three new Farmers’ Hubs in Benue State, expanding its impact and commitment to empowering smallholder farmers in Nigeria, and marking a new chapter of agricultural transformation for smallholder farmers across the region.
The launch, which took place between April 2nd and 4th, 2025, was held across Ipav Mbashimbe and Bar Stream along Gboko–Aliade road (both in Gboko LGA), and Tyav-Abuta, Tyowanye in Buruku LGA. With these additions, the total number of Farmers’ Hubs established by the Foundation in Benue now stands at five.
Designed as one-stop agricultural resource centres, these hubs provide access to quality farm inputs, market linkages, aggregation services, mechanisation support, and practical training in sustainable farming practices. Each hub features a fully equipped main building with warehousing and input storage, a greenhouse for seedling production, demonstration plots, and a dedicated training space for local farmers.
According to Timothy Azakere, the Country Team Lead for FSSS, the concept behind the Farmers’ Hub model was born out of a need to provide farmers with accessible solutions to everyday farming challenges:
“When a car breaks down, there’s a mechanic. When people are sick, they go to a hospital. But when a farmer has a sick crop—where does he go? Nowhere. That’s why we created the Farmers’ Hub: a place where farmers can find help, knowledge, and solutions to grow better and live better.”
At the heart of the launch events were hands-on training sessions, including workshops on raising seedlings using Coco peat, an eco-friendly medium made from coconut husk that supports healthy root development and improved crop performance. Farmers also received training on effective fertiliser application, tailored to their local soil and crop needs.
Reflecting on the vision behind the expansion, Clinton Inene, FSSS’s Brand and Communications Lead, highlighted the significance of the partnership with OCP Africa:
“These three new hubs in Benue—Ipav Mbashimbe, Bar, and Tyowanye—have been made possible through our strong collaboration with OCP Africa, the continent’s leading fertiliser producers. Each hub is tailored to the farming realities of its host community, with facilities that support the entire agricultural value chain—from seed to market. Our goal is to empower smallholder farmers and drive a more food-secure Nigeria.”
The impact of FSSS’s Farmers’ Hubs is already evident. In 2024 alone, the existing hubs in Benue generated ₦33.13 million in revenue for the hub managers and farmers in the community, supporting 1,434 farmers, including 502 women and 520 youths. These figures reflect not only economic impact but also a deep commitment to inclusivity and empowerment in agriculture. The hubs contributed 24.3% of the total revenue from similar centres across Nigeria’s North Central region.
Community leaders and farmers shared heartfelt reflections on what this new development means for their livelihoods. Chief Raymond Iorunduhura, Kindred Head of Tyav-Abuta in Tyowanye, expressed hope and support for the initiative:
“We are farmers by tradition, and agriculture is in our blood. This hub brings us closer to modern farming. I encourage my people to participate fully. If we learn more, we gain more, and we will truly benefit from what the Foundation has brought to us. It’s a welcome development, and we are grateful.”
From Bar in Gboko LGA, Kave Christopher, Kindred Head of Mbayion, praised the Foundation’s commitment to his community:
“I’m excited about this project. My only request is that whenever the Foundation organises trainings, our people should attend and support the work. This is our opportunity to improve farming and bring more knowledge to our people. We are thankful and hopeful.”
Farmers themselves see the hubs as a lifeline. Joseph Terkaa, a local farmer, pointed out the critical role the hubs play in addressing challenges with access to authentic farm inputs:
“We welcome this hub because the inputs—fertilisers, agrochemicals, seeds—are original. In the market, we suffer from fake products that waste our money. But here, we believe we’ll get what truly works, and that will help us grow better and do more with our land.”
Aondowase Blessing, another farmer from Ipav, shared a similar sentiment:
“In our place, it has been difficult to get herbicides and fertiliser. Sometimes, our crops don’t do well because of that. But now, with the hub here, we are very happy. It will help us farm better and solve many of our challenges.”
These voices echo a wider feeling of hope across the three communities. The hubs are already being embraced not just as infrastructure, but as symbols of change—places where learning, innovation, and collaboration are redefining the future of farming.
A Note of Appreciation from the Foundation
At the close of the launch events, the Foundation extended its deep appreciation to its partners and host communities.
“We are incredibly grateful to the communities of Ipav, Bar, and Tyowanye for warmly receiving these hubs,” said Clinton Inene.
“To our partners at OCP Africa, your unwavering support made this possible. These hubs are not just ours—they belong to the farmers. We trust that together, we will build something lasting. This is only the beginning.”
With the launch of these new hubs, the Foundation moves closer to realising its vision of a Nigeria where smallholder farming creates lasting prosperity. As we remain committed to building resilient farming communities through innovation, knowledge sharing, and partnerships. With continued support from organisations like OCP Africa, the Foundation’s vision is attainable–one hub, one farmer, one community at a time.
