The Yobe Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources has reintroduced the agriculture exhibition as part of efforts toward promoting agribusiness in the state.
Its Commissioner, Ali Goniri, made this known at the exhibition, organised by the ministry in collaboration with the Agro Climatic Resilience and Semi-Arid Land Scape ( Acresal) in Damaturu on Monday.
He said the exhibition, which last occurred in 2006 in the state, would provide a platform for each local government area to showcase agricultural potentialities abound in it.
“The agricultural show and exhibition is a forum to showcase the abundant agricultural potentials, resources and products, consolidating past achievements, identifying challenges faced by the sector and charting the way forward.
“It is also a platform for promoting agribusiness, exchanging ideas and display of new innovations among farmers across the state,” Goniri said.
The commissioner announced that Gov Mai Mala Buni had approved yet another free distribution of farm inputs and equipment to farmers in the state for the 2025 cropping season.
“Government is tirelessly working to provide additional inputs ranging from tractors, improved seed, solar water pumps, fertilizer and agro chemicals to support farmers realise their full potential for dry and rainy season production.
“I am happy to announce that any moment from now the ministry will embark on direct distribution of agriculture inputs to deserving farmers free of charge to further enhance agriculture value chain,” he said.
In his remarks, the state Coordinator, Acresal, Shehu Mohammed, promised increased support to the ministry to deliver on its mandate.
He listed activities of the project to include training of 178 extension workers, disbursement of $2.7 million to 111 communities under the Climate Smart Agriculture/Community Revolving Fund programme.
Others, Mohammed said, included procurement of 40 tractors for farmers, purchase and distribution of 500 power tillers, 100 sets of Solar-powered irrigation pumps, 1000 knapsack sprayers, improved seedlings and organic fertilizer for distribution to beneficiaries.
Items displayed at the exhibition included livestock, improved seeds, farm equipment and improved sugarcane mangoes, sesame, fish and banana.
5,340 farmers, comprising 20 males and females drawn from 178 wards of the state, benefitted from free inputs and equipment distributed by the state in 2024, under Agriculture Empowerment Programme.
NAN
