In a landmark presentation to the National Assembly on December 19, 2025, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu unveiled the ₦58.18 trillion 2026 Appropriation Bill. Titled the “Budget of Consolidation, Renewed Resilience, and Shared Prosperity,” this fiscal plan places a massive bet on the Nigerian soil.
At the heart of the proposal is a bold directive: the cultivation of 1 million hectares of land. With a commitment to doubling the 2025 agricultural budget (which stood at approximately ₦826.5 billion), the 2026 agenda is set to move beyond subsistence, targeting a future where the smallholder farmer is the primary driver of a $1 trillion economy.
1. Empowering Farmers: Access to the Modern “Toolbox”
For years, the “hoe and cutlass” narrative has limited the potential of our rural communities. The 2026 budget aims to change this through the Renewed Hope Agricultural Mechanisation Programme.
Mechanization Hubs: The government plans to establish seven regional hubs through the Bank of Agriculture. These hubs will provide smallholder farmers with access to over 2,000 tractors and 9,000 specialized implements, reducing backbreaking manual labor.
Input Financing: A significant portion of the increased funding is dedicated to the National Agricultural Growth Scheme Agro-Pocket (NAGS-APE). This provides farmers with subsidized, high-quality seeds and fertilizers, ensuring that the “1 million hectare” target isn’t just empty land, but productive fields.
Single-Digit Credit: With ₦250 billion earmarked for credit facilities through the Bank of Agriculture, smallholders can finally access loans at interest rates that won’t swallow their profits.
2. Enriching Lives: Beyond the Harvest
The positive effect on the lives of farmers in 2026 will be measured in more than just bags of grain; it will be seen in increased household income and reduced risk.
Market Strengthening: The budget focuses on strengthening agricultural markets and “fair price” protections. By establishing substantial reserves, the government aims to prevent the middleman-induced price volatility that often leaves farmers penniless after a bumper harvest.
Climate Resilience: 2026 will see a push for solar-powered irrigation and climate-resilient crop varieties. This allows for year-round farming, breaking the cycle of poverty dictated by erratic rainfall and protecting livelihoods against floods or droughts.
Infrastructure for Access: The budget links agricultural productivity to ₦3.56 trillion in infrastructure spending. For the smallholder, this means better feeder roads to transport produce to urban centres before it spoils.
3. Feeding the Future: A Resilient Nigeria
By targeting 1 million hectares, the 2026 budget is a blueprint for national food sovereignty.
Reducing Post-Harvest Loss: Significant investment is being channelled into storage and processing (agro-industrialization). By processing crops like cassava, maize, and wheat locally, farmers become part of a value chain that creates “hundreds of thousands of jobs” for the youth.
Closing the Import Gap: Nigeria currently consumes millions of metric tonnes of wheat while producing only a fraction. The 2026 focus on specific value chains aims to slash our import bill, keeping Nigerian wealth within Nigerian borders.
The AyosifamHub Takeaway
The 2026 budget is more than just numbers; it is an invitation for the Nigerian smallholder farmer to lead the nation’s renewal. From the Renewed Hope Ward Development Plan to massive recapitalization of the Bank of Agriculture, the message is clear: the soil is the new gold.
As we move into 2026, the success of this budget will depend on ensuring these resources reach the “real” farmers in the 8,809 wards across the country. If implemented with the promised discipline, 2026 will be the year our farmers don’t just feed the nation—they grow its wealth.
