The Jigawa State Government has initiated an agricultural intervention scheme to support 90,000 smallholder farmers in the state.
Gov. Umar Namadi announced this at the inauguration of the 2026 Wet Season Agricultural Support Programme on Saturday in Dutse.
He said the government would distribute fertilisers, other inputs, and 6,000 solar-powered water pumps to farmers, as well as 1,185 motorcycles to extension workers.
Namadi stated that the state government would directly support 50,000 farmers, while 40,000 others would benefit through a partnership with the Bank of Agriculture (BOA) and StarAgri.
He noted that the intervention would promote irrigation, reduce production costs, and strengthen extension services.
According to the governor, the programme aims to tackle key challenges facing farmers, including inadequate access to quality inputs, rising energy costs, and high production expenses.
He highlighted that the state government had already supported 250,000 farmers under its agricultural transformation programme. Achievements include the deployment of 1,700 extension agents, provision of 450 tractors and 70 combine harvesters, establishment of 20 modern greenhouses and four climate-smart agriculture centres, rehabilitation of Kuda and Dembo Dams, and development of 200 rice commercial processing clusters.
“It is against this background that we are flagging off the 2026 Wet Season Agricultural Support Programme, to help farmers enter the season with the inputs, equipment and services they need for productive cultivation,” he said.
The Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Muttaka Namadi, said the interventions were designed to improve access to quality inputs, strengthen extension services, promote climate-smart agriculture, and ensure timely availability of affordable fertilisers.
Dr. Saifullahi Umar, Director-General of the Jigawa State Agricultural Transformation Agency (J-ATA), noted that the fertilisers, inputs, and equipment would reduce production costs, improve farmers’ incomes, and strengthen food security.
“To improve farmer incomes, we must increase yield per hectare. To create sustainable jobs for our teeming youth, we must make farming a business, not a struggle for survival,” he said.
Mr. Ayo Sotinrin, Managing Director of BOA, urged farmers to make effective use of the inputs.
“Farm with purpose and apply your inputs correctly. The harvest you produce is not just feeding your family, it is feeding the nation and strengthening the economy,” he said.
Ms. Sunday Eyal, Managing Director of Star Agri West Africa Ltd., commended the state government’s investment in agriculture, noting that Jigawa’s warehouses stood out compared to those in other states.
Ya’u Idris Maiunguwa, Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) in the state, praised the governor for his sustained support to smallholder farmers. He added that beneficiaries were selected based on merit, with farmers’ associations involved in identifying genuine beneficiaries.
