The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS) has donated various free agricultural inputs to the Jigawa State Government to support agricultural transformation, boost production, and enhance food and nutrition security.
The inputs include 10,000 water pumps with accessories, 10,000 knapsack sprayers, 10,000 liters of herbicides, 10,000 liters of pesticides, and 10,000 liters of organic fertilizers.
Speaking at the 2025 Wheat Farmers Green Field Celebration, organized by the Jigawa State Government and the Flour Milling Association of Nigeria (FMAN) in Dabi village, Ringim Local Government Area, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, emphasized that these inputs would help curb food inflation and enable farmers to transition from subsistence farming to profitable agribusiness.
He highlighted the central role of agriculture in Jigawa State’s economy, noting that the sector contributes over 60% of the state’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employs more than 90% of its population.
He also acknowledged Jigawa’s reputation for food crop production, livestock farming, and cash crop exports, particularly sesame and hibiscus, positioning it as one of Nigeria’s top sesame producers and the largest producer of hibiscus.
Reflecting on past achievements, the Minister revealed that during the 2023/2024 wheat production season, the Federal Government, through the National Agricultural Growth Scheme and Agro Pocket Programme (NAGS-AP), supported the cultivation of 40,000 hectares of wheat in Jigawa.
An additional 15,000 hectares were cultivated through contributions from the state government and other partners, bringing the total to 55,000 hectares.
He noted that timely access to subsidized inputs and the dedication of farmers resulted in a bumper harvest that season.
Building on this success, the Federal Government increased its support to 60,000 hectares for the current season, while the state government and partners contributed another 20,000 hectares, bringing the total to 80,000 hectares.
He celebrated the achievement of cultivating over 80,000 hectares of wheat and supporting more than 160,000 farmers with subsidized agricultural inputs.
Senator Kyari commended the collaborative efforts of the African Development Bank, under the leadership of Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, for supporting the establishment of NAGS-AP.
He also recognized the contributions of the World Food Programme, other multinational organizations, and FMAN in fostering a thriving agricultural sector, aligning with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for food and nutrition security.
In his remarks, the Governor of Jigawa State, Mallam Umar Namadi, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening the agricultural sector, emphasizing its role in achieving food security and economic prosperity.
He expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for his Renewed Hope Agenda in agriculture, which has driven significant innovations and progress toward national food security.
The governor further stated that Jigawa aims to expand wheat production to 500,000 hectares by 2030 and is open to partnerships to achieve this goal.
In his welcome address, the National Program Manager of FMAN, Dr. Aliyu Samaila, announced that this year, FMAN, in collaboration with the Jigawa State Government, is providing input loans to 10,000 farmers and training over 50,000 farmers across six wheat-producing states. He added that FMAN has also established 200 demonstration farms and centers of excellence to equip farmers with the knowledge and skills needed to enhance productivity and achieve higher yields.
A key highlight of the event was the distribution of agricultural inputs to smallholder farmers, followed by an inspection of wheat farms in Ringim Local Government Area.
The event was attended by the Deputy Governor of Jigawa State, the Commissioner of Agriculture and Natural Resources, directors from FMAFS, members of FMAN, representatives of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria, and other stakeholders.