The Bank of Agriculture has commenced the nationwide distribution of fertilisers, maize seeds and crop protection products to about 500,000 smallholder farmers under the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Smallholder Support and Value Chain Fund, as part of efforts to boost food security and improve rural livelihoods. The intervention, which targets farmers across more than 20 states, is expected to support the cultivation of about 520,000 hectares of farmland and generate an estimated 2.6 million tonnes of additional food for the country. The initiative was disclosed by the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Bank of Agriculture, Ayo Sotinrin, during the flag-off of the distribution exercise in Dutse, the Jigawa State capital. He said, “The intervention formed part of a nationwide programme targeting nearly 500,000 farmers, who will cultivate about 520,000 hectares of farmland, with an expected output of at least 2.6 million tonnes of additional food for Nigeria’s food basket.”.