The Federal Government has launched the 2025/2026 dry-season wheat farming initiative under the National Agricultural Growth Scheme and Agro-Pocket (NAGS-AP), aiming to empower 80,000 registered farmers nationwide with an expected output value of approximately N160 billion.
The programme, a flagship of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, was formally flagged off in Borno State on Saturday by Governor Babagana Umara Zulum at the Jere Bowl in Dusuman, Jere Local Government Area.
Speaking at the event, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, announced that 16 wheat-producing states—including Adamawa, Bauchi, Cross River, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Niger, Plateau, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, and Zamfara—will benefit from the scheme.
“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 this season, 3,000 hectares have been allocated to Borno State, representing 6,000 farmers,” Kyari said. He added that the programme will later expand to include other high-value crops, reinforcing the government’s commitment to food security and agricultural transformation.
Governor Zulum highlights Borno’s agricultural gains
Governor Zulum lauded the initiative as a transformative step for Borno’s agricultural sector, aligning with his administration’s vision to revitalize farming and improve livelihoods.
“Here in Borno State, wheat cultivation is not just a programme; it is a transformative initiative,” he said. “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.”
The governor also expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for prioritizing food security under the Renewed Hope Agenda. “Mr President’s commitment to food security and national productivity provides the foundation upon which programmes like this are built,” Zulum stated.
He acknowledged the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Senator Kyari for selecting Borno as a priority location for scaled wheat production. The distributed inputs include high-yield seedlings, blended fertilisers, tractors, and pesticides—tools aimed at boosting productivity and reducing Nigeria’s reliance on food imports.
What you should know
In September, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, said the Federal Government had launched an ambitious $3.14 billion agricultural investment plan in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Hand-in-Hand Initiative.
- The initiative is aimed at transforming five key value chains, such as tomato, cassava, maize, dairy, and fisheries.
- Kyari said the Hand-in-Hand initiative seeks to eradicate poverty, end hunger, and achieve food sovereignty while aligning with global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the African Union’s Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP).
