Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed has announced a ₦45 billion investment to upgrade the state-owned fertiliser blending plant.
The announcement was made during the inauguration of the 2025 fertiliser distribution exercise on Saturday at Dajin Duguri community in Alkaleri Local Government Area.
The upgrade is being delivered through a strategic partnership with Morocco’s Office Chérifien des Phosphates (OCP) Group. The enhanced facility is designed to produce 45 tonnes of fertiliser per hour, improving farmers’ access to this critical input.
“As part of the government’s ongoing agricultural support, 20 tractors have already been distributed across the state’s 20 local government areas, and an additional 40 tractors have been procured for the loan scheme this year,” the governor stated.
He added that NPK-brand fertilisers will be sold at subsidised rates during the 2025 cropping season. An extensive soil-testing exercise has also been conducted to help farmers select suitable fertilisers and crop varieties for their zones.
Governor Mohammed urged youths to embrace agribusiness, noting that his administration will launch initiatives to support their engagement in farming.
To further encourage participation, civil servants have been granted a two-day work break to enable them to engage in farming activities. He commended them for repaying farm input loans taken during the 2024 cropping season.
Dr Iliyasu Gital, Commissioner for Agriculture, reiterated the government’s dedication to timely and affordable fertiliser distribution.
Represented by Commissioner for Livestock Development Bala Lukshi, Gital noted that the state, in collaboration with the federal government, has trained 1,000 youths in modern farming techniques.
