FG to Back 80,000 Farmers in Producing ₦160bn Wheat Output

News in Brief:

-Nigeria is empowering 80,000 farmers to produce ₦160 billion worth of wheat during the 2025/2026 dry season.

-This initiative aims to steer the country towards food sufficiency as wheat remains its major agricultural import.

The Federal Government has begun distributing agricultural inputs for the 2025/2026 dry-season farming cycle, starting with Borno State. The inputs include high-yield wheat seeds, blended fertilisers, tractors, and pesticides.

Governor Babagana Umara Zulum said the state government will also invest in expanding and improving irrigation systems to enhance productivity. The initiative is being implemented under the National Growth Scheme and Agro-Pocket (NAGS-AP), aligning with broader national efforts to revitalise agriculture. Farmers will additionally receive extension services to help increase yields and strengthen national food security.

“Borno State has achieved remarkable milestones under our people-centred agricultural vision. Our input support programmes have reached tens of thousands of smallholder farmers, resettled households, women, and youth, providing improved seeds, agrochemicals, and agronomic guidance,” Zulum said.

He commended the Tinubu-led administration for prioritising food production and committing to transformative agricultural investments.

Ambitious Wheat Production Output

Meanwhile, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, stated that 16 states will benefit from the wheat empowerment drive. These are he states of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Cross River, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Niger, Plateau, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, and Zamfara.

Kyari stated that 80,000 registered farmers will receive inputs and cultivate 40,000 hectares to produce wheat valued at ₦160 billion. He noted that Borno has already been allocated 3,000 hectares. The ministry will follow this with a second phase targeting additional priority value chain crops across other states.

Borno’s Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Engr. Bawu Musami added that the programme will revive the South Sudan irrigation scheme and Baga Folders projects, both of which involve thousands of farmers.