Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno, on Saturday, flagged off the distribution of the federal government’s agricultural inputs to wheat farmers for the 2025/2026 dry season farming.

The governor made the distribution at the Jere Bowl in Dusuman, Jere Local Government Area of Borno, marking the commencement of the federal government’s intervention for wheat cultivation in the country.

The items included high-yield seedlings, blended fertilisers, tractors, and pesticides.

The initiative was being implemented under the National Agricultural Growth Scheme and Agro-Pocket (NAGS-AP), a flagship programme of the federal ministry of agriculture and food security designed to empower farmers and reduce the country’s reliance on food imports.

Mr Zulum said that the programme was aligned with his administration’s commitment to revitalise the agricultural sector.

“Here in Borno State, wheat cultivation is not just a programme; it is a transformative initiative.

“Through targeted investments in irrigation, mechanisation, quality inputs, and extension services, we are equipping farmers to achieve higher yields, enhance productivity, and contribute meaningfully to national output.

“Borno State has achieved remarkable milestones under our people-centred agricultural vision.

“Our input support programmes have reached tens of thousands of smallholder farmers, resettled households, women, and youth, providing improved seeds, agrochemicals, and agronomic guidance,” he said.

The governor, however, expressed appreciation for President Bola Tinubu’s food security initiative under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

“Let me begin by acknowledging the steadfast leadership of President Bola Tinubu, whose Renewed Hope Agenda has continued to champion transformative investments in agriculture across Nigeria.

“Mr President’s commitment to food security and national productivity provides the foundation upon which programmes like this are built,” Mr Zulum said.

“I also express profound appreciation to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, under the leadership of the Honourable Minister, His Excellency Senator Abubakar Kyari, for sustaining this national programme and for selecting Borno State as one of the priority locations for scaled wheat production,” he said.

Earlier, the minister of agriculture and food security, Abubakar Kyari, said 16 states will benefit from the NAGS-AP wheat component of the 2025/2026 season.

“Today, the wheat component of the NAG-AP programme covers 16 wheat-producing states of the federation.

“These are Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Cross River, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Niger, Plateau, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, and Zamfara

“For the current 2025/2026 season, the programme is targeting 80,000 registered farmers with an expected output value of approximately N160 billion.

“Out of the 40,000 hectares earmarked for wheat production, the 2025/2026 dry season, 3,000 hectares have been allocated to Borno State, representing 6,000 wheat farmers.

“This support will be followed by the second phase of the programme, which will promote the cultivation of other priority top value chains across the state,” Mr Kyari said.

(NAN)