At 52, with a family to support and years of wheat farming in Kano State behind her, Hajiya Sidiya Kiru knew what to expect: little help, uncertain harvests, and watching Nigeria import the wheat its people need.
"Before this time, no organization was providing support for us in wheat production," she says.
Then in 2024, her phone buzzed with a message that changed everything.
The text contained a code for subsidized wheat seeds and fertilizer. "We got to know about the program through our state agricultural office during farmers' registration," Hajiya Sidiya recalls. As a leader in the women's Wheat Farmers Association, she'd seen promises before. But when she arrived at the collection center, this one was real.
She received 100 kg bags of NPK-Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium fertilizer, 50 kg bags of urea, and 25 kg bags of certified wheat seeds--at real discounts: 50% off fertilizers, 75% off seeds. "The text message made getting the inputs easier than anything we'd experienced in the past."
The program, called NAGS-AP and funded by the African Development Bank, covered half a hectare. But Hajiya Sidiya added her own money to farm a whole hectare, following the program's requirement.
Throughout the season, agricultural advisors came regularly, teaching better farming techniques--when to plant, how to irrigate, managing pests, and handling the harvest. Knowledge that had been out of reach was now delivered to her field.
At harvest, her hectare yielded about 3.7 metric tons of wheat. She sold it in Kano's open market. "From the sale, I earned a good income, which improved my living conditions."
Her story echoes experiences across Nigeria's wheat belt. Farouk Rabiu Mudi, President of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria, expanded his cultivation from 5 to 10.2 hectares with program support. "With this support, my income has more than doubled. Farmers in my area have had the same success."
Nearly 400,000 smallholder farmers across 23 states got support through the program. Wheat cultivation expanded from 11,820 hectares in 2021 to almost 400,000 hectares by 2025. Yields improved by 30%. Nigeria's domestic wheat production climbed from less than 1% of national demand to 20%--about 1.12 million metric tons, worth over $500 million. The program created 25,000 jobs and sparked over $30 million in private investment. Flour mills established guaranteed purchase agreements with farmer cooperatives, giving farmers reliable markets. Digital systems cut through the distribution problems that had held things back for decades.
But when Hajiya Sidiya talks about her experience, she doesn't just offer gratitude.
"The main challenge we faced was the delay in getting the agricultural inputs," she says. The delays hurt planting schedules. "Also, what I needed was more than what the program gave me. What I received wasn't enough."
She had to add her own money, an option not all farmers have. Her suggestions are specific:
"I suggest the program increase the quantity of inputs, distribute them on time, and add water pumps for dry season farming."
Water pumps would address real constraints farmers face in the dry season. More inputs would allow expansion without requiring more capital. Better timing would mean planting at the right time, getting better yields.
This honest feedback, captured through independent farmer surveys, has been crucial for improving the program. And despite the challenges, she sees the bigger picture: "I was able to cultivate my hectare, and with this support, farmers in my cluster also have the same success story."
Her cluster. Not just her. When one farmer gets better seeds and knowledge, neighboring farms improve. When advisors train a women's leader, she shares that knowledge with her association. The ripple effect matters as much as individual success.
At the end of her testimonial, Hajiya Sidiya wrote: "Thanks to NAGS-AP Program." But she also included suggestions for improvements: more inputs, better timing, and water pumps.
Both matter. The gratitude reflects real impact--a women's leader who farmed her hectare and saw her life improve, who watched farmers in her area experience similar success. The suggestions reflect someone who knows this is just the beginning, who understands what it takes to move from 20% self-sufficiency toward more.
The text message wasn't just a code. For Hajiya Sidiya and nearly 400,000 farmers like her, it was the beginning of a different story--one where support actually arrives, where knowledge reaches the fields, where harvests improve, and where farmers speak honestly about what works and what needs fixing.
She picked up her phone, read the message, and decided to believe it could be real. It was. And now she's telling them how to make it better.
