The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS) has donated free agricultural inputs to the Jigawa State government, including 10,000 water pumps with all accessories, 10,000 knapsack sprayers, 10,000 litres of herbicides, 10,000 litres of pesticide and 10,000 litres of organic fertilisers.
This initiative aims to support agricultural transformation in the state, increase production and achieve food and nutrition security.
During the 2025 Wheat Farmers Green Field Celebration organised by the Jigawa State government and the Flour Milling Association of Nigeria (FMAN) in Dabi village, Ringim local government area, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, stated that these free agricultural inputs would help reduce food inflation and assist farmers in shifting from subsistence farming to profitable agribusiness.
Kyari emphasised that agriculture is the backbone of Jigawa State’s economy, contributing over 60 per cent to the state’s gross domestic product (GDP) and employing more than 90 per cent of its population. He noted that Jigawa is well-known for its food crop production, livestock farming and cash crop exports, particularly sesame and hibiscus, positioning the state as one of Nigeria’s leading producers of sesame and the largest producer of hibiscus.
He revealed that during the 2023/2024 wheat production season, the Federal Government, through the National Agricultural Growth Scheme and Agro Pocket Programme (NAGS-AP), supported the cultivation of 40,000 hectares of wheat in Jigawa State. The state government and other partners contributed an additional 15,000 hectares, resulting in a total production across 55,000 hectares.
Kyari remarked, “In that year, the timely provision of inputs at subsidised prices, along with the commitment and resilience of the farmers, led to a bumper harvest.”
“Following the success recorded in Jigawa State last season, the Federal Government has agreed to increase its intervention and support to 60,000 hectares, while the state and other partners will cover an additional 20,000 hectares, bringing the total to 80,000 hectares. Today, we celebrate the cultivation of over 80,000 hectares of wheat, with more than 160,000 farmers supported through subsidised agricultural inputs,” he added.
The minister commended the collaborative efforts of the African Development Bank, led by its president, Dr. Akinwunmi Ayodeji Adesina who supported the platform that launched the NAGS-AP, along with the World Food Programme, other multinational organisations and the Flour Milling Association of Nigeria for fostering a thriving agricultural community aligned with the ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda for food and nutrition security put forth by President Bola Tinubu.
In his remarks, the governor of Jigawa State, Mallam Umar Namadi reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to supporting the agricultural sector, which is essential for achieving food security and prosperity in the state and the country.
He expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for the ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda in the agricultural sector, which has led to significant innovations and milestones in achieving national food security.
The governor added, “In Jigawa State, we aim to expand our wheat production to 500,000 hectares by 2030, and we will partner with any potential collaborators to achieve this goal.”
In his welcome address, the national programme manager of the Flour Milling Association of Nigeria, FMAN, Dr. Aliyu Samaila stated that “this year, FMAN is supporting 10,000 farmers with input loans while training over 50,000 farmers across six wheat-producing states.”
He also mentioned that FMAN has established 200 demonstration farms and centres of excellence to equip farmers with the knowledge and skills needed for higher yields and improved productivity.
A statement from the ministry’s director of information, signed by Ikemefuna Ezeaja, highlighted that the event included the distribution of agricultural inputs to smallholder farmers and inspections of wheat farms in Ringim local government area.
Attendees included the deputy governor of Jigawa State, the commissioner of agriculture and natural resources, directors of FMAFS, members of the Flour Milling Association of Nigeria and representatives of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria, among others.
