The Jigawa government has initiated an agricultural intervention scheme to support 90,000 smallholder farmers in the state.

Governor Umar Namadi said this at the inauguration of the 2026 Wet Season Agricultural Support Programme on Saturday in Dutse.

He said that the government would distribute fertilisers, agricultural inputs, and 6,000 solar-powered water pumps to the farmers, as well as 1,185 motorcycles to extension workers under the scheme.

Mr Namadi said the state government would support 50,000 farmers, while 40,000 others would benefit through a partnership involving the Bank of Agriculture (BOA) and StarAgri.

He said the gesture would encourage irrigation activities, reduce production costs, and enhance extension services.

According to Mr Namadi, the intervention aims to address challenges confronting farmers, particularly inadequate access to quality inputs, rising energy costs, and production expenses.

He said the state government had so far provided viable interventions to 250,000 farmers under its agricultural transformation programme.

The governor said the achievements included the deployment of 1,700 extension agents, the provision of 450 tractors and 70 combine harvesters.

Others included the establishment of 20 modern greenhouses, four climate-smart agriculture centres, the rehabilitation of Kuda and Dembo dams, and the development of 200 commercial rice 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.

Also, Muttaka Namadi, Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, said the interventions were designed to improve access to quality inputs, strengthen extension services, promote climate-smart agriculture, and ensure the timely availability of fertilisers at affordable prices.

Similarly, Saifullahi Umar, Director-General, Jigawa State Agricultural Transformation Agency (J-ATA), said the fertiliser, inputs, and equipment distributed would cut production costs, improve farmers’ incomes, and strengthen food security.

He said the intervention would boost agricultural productivity and create sustainable jobs for youths.

“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.

Ayo Sotinrin, Managing Director, BOA, urged farmers to ensure the effective utilisation of the inputs to increase their production output.

“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.

Sunday Eyal, Managing Director, Star Agri West Africa Ltd., lauded the state government’s investment in agriculture.

“We went through the warehouses established by the government and, when compared with warehouses in other states, we found that Jigawa has invested enormously in agriculture,” Mr Eyal said.

On his part, Ya’u Idris Maiunguwa, Chairman, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) in the state, commended the governor for his sustained support for smallholder farmers.

“Beneficiaries were selected based on merit, while leaders of farmers’ associations participated in identifying genuine farmers across communities,” he said. 

(NAN)