The Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has officially launched the 2026 wet season farming, unveiling an expanded agricultural support package aimed at boosting food production, improving farmers’ livelihoods and strengthening food security across the state.
The launch, held in Kwaya Kusar Local Government Area, featured the commencement of government-subsidised sales of NPK fertiliser alongside the free distribution of agrochemicals, knapsack sprayers, certified seeds, water pumps, bicycles and post-harvest storage facilities for vulnerable farmers.
Speaking at the event, Governor Zulum described agriculture as the cornerstone of his administration’s recovery and development agenda, stressing that sustained investment in the sector remains the most reliable pathway to economic recovery, poverty reduction, job creation and sustainable development.
The governor recalled that when his administration assumed office in 2019, the state was grappling with the devastating effects of over a decade of insurgency, which had displaced farming communities, destroyed rural infrastructure and severely disrupted agricultural production.
Despite the challenges, he said the government chose to rebuild the state through strategic investments in agriculture and rural development, and by implementing farmer-centred programmes.
Governor Zulum said one of the administration’s major achievements has been the revitalisation of agricultural mechanisation through the deployment of more than 250 state-owned tractors across agricultural zones, while over 200 additional tractors were allocated to the 27 local government areas to provide free mechanisation services for internally displaced persons, returnees and vulnerable farming households.
He announced that the state government had procured 100 truckloads of high-quality NPK fertiliser for the 2026 wet farming season, representing an increase from the 75 truckloads distributed during the previous season.
The fertiliser will be sold to farmers at government-subsidised rates to encourage increased cultivation and improve food production.
The governor also acknowledged the difficulties experienced by farmers during the previous season due to low market prices for maize and rice.
He disclosed that the Borno State Government is collaborating with the Federal Government on measures to protect farmers against market volatility through commodity aggregation and guaranteed minimum pricing arrangements for key food crops.
Governor Zulum warned beneficiaries against diverting or reselling the subsidised fertilisers, emphasising that the products are strictly meant for agricultural production.
He assured residents that the fertilisers supplied by the government are approved formulations and called on security agencies and community leaders to prevent their misuse.
The Borno Governor further announced that Borno State will participate in several major agricultural transformation initiatives, including AGROW, the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones Programme, ATASP-II, IFAD-VCN, RAAMP and the Renewed Hope Smallholder Support and Value Chain Fund, which will improve farmers’ access to finance and critical agricultural inputs.
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Governor Zulum commended the Nigerian Armed Forces, other security agencies, the Civilian Joint Task Force, hunters and vigilantes for creating an enabling environment that has allowed displaced farmers to return to their communities and resume farming activities.
He also appreciated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the Federal Government’s continued support to Borno State and acknowledged development partners, including the World Food Programme, Food and Agriculture Organisation, United Nations Development Programme, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, International Fund for Agricultural Development, the World Bank, African Development Bank and other partners for supporting agricultural development and food security in the state.
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Earlier, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Bawu Musami, said the event reflected Governor Zulum’s unwavering commitment to placing agriculture at the centre of governance and economic development.
He noted that since 2019, the administration has implemented extensive agricultural interventions across the state and partnerships with international development organisations.
Musami highlighted major projects executed across Southern Borno, including the revival of the Jaffi Irrigation Scheme in Kwaya Kusar after more than three decades of inactivity, revitalisation of irrigation facilities in Bayo, construction of tube wells across several local government areas, distribution of solar-powered water pumps and establishment of a mega cassava plantation using improved industrial varieties sourced from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture.
He said the interventions have restored thousands of hectares of farmland, increased agricultural productivity, created employment opportunities and strengthened food security across the state.
The commissioner expressed confidence that the administration’s continued investment in agriculture would further transform Borno into a leading agricultural hub in Nigeria.
