The Kebbi State Government has commenced the free distribution of 110 truckloads of fertiliser and 100 metric tonnes of improved seed varieties to about 120,000 farmers as part of efforts to enhance food production and strengthen farmers’ resilience to climate change during the 2026 wet farming season.
Speaking at the official flag-off of the exercise in Birnin Kebbi, Governor Nasir Idris said the intervention was being implemented under the Climate Change Adaptation Seed Support Programme and the Kaura Agricultural Development Agenda (KADAGE).
According to the governor, the initiative is designed to ease production costs, improve food security and help farmers cope with the increasing effects of climate change, including erratic rainfall, flooding, prolonged dry spells and pest infestations.
Idris noted that agriculture remains the backbone of Kebbi’s economy, with more than 80 per cent of the state’s population depending on farming for their livelihoods.
He disclosed that 6,000 metric tonnes of NPK fertiliser would be distributed through the state’s 3,743 polling units to ensure the inputs reach genuine farmers directly, eliminating the activities of middlemen.
The governor added that the state would also distribute 100 metric tonnes of drought-tolerant and early-maturing millet and rice seeds carefully selected for their ability to withstand changing weather conditions while delivering higher yields.
He said the programme forms part of his administration’s broader agricultural transformation agenda, which also includes the procurement of 5,000 power tillers and farm implements, the revival of the tractor hiring scheme at subsidised rates and the expansion of irrigation infrastructure.
According to him, the state has already distributed more than 15,000 solar-powered irrigation pumps, 20,000 petrol-powered pumps and 10,000 LPG-powered pumps, while participating in irrigation development initiatives aimed at reducing dependence on rainfall.
Idris also revealed that additional agricultural extension workers had been deployed to rural communities to promote climate-smart farming techniques, while security agencies were collaborating with the government to protect farmlands.
He warned beneficiaries against diverting or selling the fertiliser and improved seeds, stressing that anyone found abusing the programme would face legal sanctions.
The governor urged farmers to make effective use of the inputs and adopt recommended climate-smart agricultural practices to maximise yields. He also called on traditional rulers and community leaders to ensure transparency and fairness throughout the distribution process.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Shehu Mu’azu, said the exercise fulfilled the governor’s annual commitment under KADAGE to provide free agricultural inputs to farmers across the state.
He explained that the administration’s agricultural policies focus on free input distribution, dry-season farming and climate resilience initiatives to boost food production and improve rural livelihoods.
Also speaking, Secretary to the State Government, Yakubu Bala-Tafida, said a multi-stakeholder committee comprising government officials, lawmakers, traditional rulers, local government chairmen and security agencies had been established to oversee the distribution across the state’s 225 wards.
He reiterated that the fertiliser bears a unique government identity and is not meant for sale, warning that anyone caught diverting or selling the products would be prosecuted.
