The Federal Government on Saturday said it is targeting 80,000 farmers for the 2025/2026 dry season wheat production under the National Agricultural Growth Scheme and Agro-Pocket (NAGS-AP), as Gov. Babagana Umara Zulum flagged off the programme in Borno.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, who disclosed this at the launch held at the Jere Bowl in Dusuman, said the initiative aims to boost national wheat output and reduce import dependence.
He said the NAGS-AP wheat component covers 16 states, with a projected output value of about N160 billion for the season.
Kyari said 40,000 hectares had been designated for wheat production across the country, out of which Borno received 3,000 hectares to support 6,000 farmers.
He explained that the intervention aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises food security and agricultural productivity.
Flagging off the distribution, Zulum said Borno State was prepared to maximise the opportunity through irrigation development, mechanisation and farmer support services.
He said the inputs distributed—including improved seeds, blended fertilisers, tractors and pesticides—would enhance yield and strengthen the livelihoods of smallholder farmers.
“Wheat production in Borno is becoming a transformative initiative. Our programmes have reached tens of thousands of farmers, women and youth, positioning agriculture as a major driver of economic recovery,” Zulum said.
Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Engr. Bawu Musami, highlighted the ongoing irrigation and cultivation projects in the state, noting that the South Sudan irrigation scheme and Baga Folders projects had expanded farming activities.
The launch was attended by Sen. Kaka Shehu Lawan (Borno Central); members of the House of Representatives Abdulkadir Rahis and Engr. Bukar Talba; the Shehu of Borno, Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai Elkanemi; and other government officials.
