Mohammed Abubakar Dutse
The Jigawa state government on has performed the launch of the 2026 Wet Season farming with strong commitment towards expanding the agricultural potentialities of the state through adequate funding and provision of essential farming tools.
The state governor Umar Namadi, while performing the launch of the programme, at the Dutse Stadium on Saturday pledged the commitment of his administration, through the provision of farming inputs such as fertilizer mechanization, irrigation, extension services, and targeted support for youth and women in agribusiness in three years.
For instance, the governor remarked that, the government supported over 250,000 farmers through inputs, mechanization, irrigation, extension services, and targeted support for youth and women in agribusiness in three years.
He explained that, over the last three years, the present administration supported farmers through wet-season and dry-season production, input support, irrigation, mechanisation, extension delivery, and agricultural financing.
The governor who said, government is mindful of the challenges faced by farmers, especially timely access to quality inputs, rising energy costs, and other production expenses, added that, It is against this background that we flag off the 2026 Wet Season Agricultural Support Programme, a practical intervention to help farmers enter the season with the inputs, equipment, and services they need for productive cultivation.
According to him, the moves is building on previous efforts to ensure that support reaches genuine farmers in good time and is used for its intended purpose. Our goal is simple: to make every public investment in agriculture count.
“Under the programme, fertilizer support will reach 90,000 farmers across the state, with 50,000 farmers fully supported by the Jigawa State Government and an additional 40,000 farmers supported through our partnership with the Bank of Agriculture and StarAgri.
The programme will also provide 6,000 high-capacity solar water pumps to reduce energy costs and support irrigation, as well as 1,185 motorcycles to strengthen the delivery of extension services and bring practical guidance closer to farming communities.
“Our agricultural transformation efforts are already producing practical results. So far, we have supported over 250,000 farmers through inputs, mechanization, irrigation, extension services, and targeted support for youthand women in agribusiness”, he said.
Namadi also identified some Key achievements include the deployment of 1,700 extension agents, 450 tractors, 70 combine harvesters and other implements, 20 modern greenhouses, 4 climate-smart agriculture centres, the rehabilitation of Kuda and Dembo dams, and the development of 200 5-in-1 rice commercial processing clusters across the three senatorial districts.
“These interventions are reducing drudgery, improving productivity, expanding irrigation, supporting value addition, and making agriculture more attractive to young people and women.
“Our pursuit of agricultural transformation cannot be achieved by the government alone. I therefore sincerely appreciate the Bank of Agriculture, StarAgri, the Federal Government of Nigeria, our development partners, financial institutions, farmer cooperatives, and all stakeholders whose support is helping us expand access to inputs, finance, technology, and markets for our farmers.
“As our people wisely say, Noma Tushen Arziki — farming is the foundation of prosperity. This belief continues to guide our vision to make Jigawa State a leading food basket, a centre for mechanisation and irrigation, and a hub for seed production, agro-processing, climate-smart agriculture, and agribusiness investment.
“We want Made in Jigawa to stand for quality, productivity, and value in agricultural markets. I call on our farmers to use these inputs and facilities responsibly, work closely with extension agents, and repay credit or input facilities promptly so that this support can be sustained and extended to more farmers”, he said.
He reaffirmed his administration’s determination to transform Jigawa into Nigeria’s leading food-producing state through sustained investment in mechanisation, irrigation, agricultural financing, extension services and input support.
According to the governor, the intervention is designed to address the major challenges confronting farmers, including limited access to quality farm inputs, rising production costs and high energy expenses.
Namadi announced that 90,000 farmers would benefit from subsidised fertiliser under the programme. He explained that while the state government would fully sponsor 50,000 farmers, another 40,000 beneficiaries would receive support through a partnership involving the Bank of Agriculture (BOA) and StarAgri.
The governor also unveiled the distribution of 6,000 solar-powered water pumps to promote year-round irrigation farming and reduce production costs, alongside 1,185 motorcycles for agricultural extension agents to improve access to farming communities and enhance the delivery of modern farming techniques.
He disclosed that over 250,000 farmers had benefited from various agricultural interventions introduced by his administration in the last three years, covering farm inputs, mechanisation, irrigation, extension services and targeted support for women and youth engaged in agribusiness.
Enumerating the achievements recorded in the sector, Namadi said his administration had deployed 1,700 extension agents, procured 450 tractors, 70 combine harvesters and other farm implements, established 20 modern greenhouses and four climate-smart agriculture centres, rehabilitated the Kuda and Dembo dams and developed 200 five-in-one rice commercial processing clusters across the state’s three senatorial districts.
The governor commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for initiating the Smallholder Farmers Programme through the Bank of Agriculture and for the Federal Government’s continued support in transforming agriculture in Jigawa from subsistence farming to mechanised commercial production.
According to him, the collaboration has empowered thousands of smallholder farmers, strengthened food production and accelerated the state’s drive towards food security and economic prosperity.
He urged beneficiaries to utilise the farm inputs responsibly, work closely with extension officers and repay agricultural loans promptly to ensure the sustainability of the intervention.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Hon. Muttaqa Namadi, described the event as the unveiling of four strategic agricultural initiatives aimed at strengthening food security, improving rural livelihoods and stimulating economic growth.
The commissioner noted that the interventions would improve farmers’ access to quality inputs, strengthen extension services, encourage climate-smart agriculture and ensure the availability of genuine fertiliser at subsidised rates.
Speaking on behalf of farmers, the Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) in Jigawa State, Alhaji Maiunguwa Jaga, described the intervention as timely and capable of transforming agricultural production across the state.
He said the subsidised fertiliser, solar-powered water pumps and other support packages would reduce production costs, increase yields and improve farmers’ livelihoods while boosting food security and economic growth across Jigawa State.
News4 days ago
Politics2 days ago