July 7, 2026
By Editor
The Jigawa State Government has commenced the distribution ofย 20,200 bags of high-quality fertilizerย toย 5,040 registered smallholder farmersย across theย 27 Local Government Areas (LGAs)ย in the state, as part of theย Renewed Hope Farm Inputs Distribution Programmeย for theย 2026 wet farming season.
Flagging off the exercise on Tuesday, Governorย Malam Umar A. Namadiย stated that it aligns with Presidentย Tinubuโs Renewed Hope Agenda.
Represented by his Deputy,ย Engineer Aminu Usman, the Governor emphasized that this programme aims to significantly enhance farm productivity, ensure food availability, increase household incomes, and stimulate economic activity in rural communities.
He highlighted that since the inception of his administration, the government has supported overย 250,000 farmersย in Jigawa State with high-yield agricultural inputs and productivity-enhancing interventions. Recognizing the importance of technology and knowledge transfer, Governor Namadi announced the recruitment of approximatelyย 1,700 extension agentsย to improve farmer advisory services and ensure effective delivery of modern agricultural techniques.
To promote competitive commercial agriculture and reduce traditional farming burdens, the government has expanded mechanization services by acquiringย 450 tractorsย andย 70 combine harvesters, alongside establishing dedicated mechanization service centers. The Governor urged beneficiaries to use the fertilizer exclusively for crop production on designated farms, warning against diversion, resale, or misuse of the inputs.
He assured that digital verification systems and field supervisors will monitor the utilization of these inputs to maintain accountability. Governor Namadi expressed gratitude toย Bola Ahmed Tinubuย for his visionary leadership and commitment to the agricultural sector through theย Renewed Hope Agendaย and theย National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF).
In his address,ย Mr. Mohammed A. Ibrahim, the Executive Secretary and CEO of the NADF, said the challenges faced by smallholder farmers is what make President Tinubu declared aย National State of Emergencyย on food security and agriculture. He stressed the importance of treating agriculture as an engine for economic growth rather than a charity, emphasizing the need forย productivity-enhancing interventions.
Ibrahim noted the rising and unpredictable prices of fertilizer and critical inputs, which have severely affected rural households. He revealed that the NADF has tailored this intervention to deliver critical inputs directly to farmers, with each of theย 5,040 verified smallholder farmersย receivingย 4 bags of fertilizerย (1 bag of Urea and 3 bags of NPK) provided entirely as aย 100% grantย under the NADF Farm Input Support Programme.
He highlighted the programme’s focus on genuine smallholder farmers cultivating less thanย 0.5 hectaresย of land, with beneficiaries verified through a rigorous process requiring a validย National Identification Number (NIN). The agency is prioritizing three strategic food-security crops vital to Jigawa:ย rice, maize, and cowpea.
Ibrahim advised farmers against selling or misusing the fertilizer, stressing its critical role in enhancing yields for the wet season.
Earlier,ย Dr. Saifullahi Umar, Director General of theย Jigawa State Agricultural Transformation Agency (JATA), also warned against the resale or diversion of inputs, urging farmers to adhere to guidance from extension agents.
He reinforced that Jigawa State has aย zero-tolerance policyย for input mismanagement and warned that anyone caught compromising this system will face severe consequences.
Dr. Umar emphasized that agricultural transformation requires collaboration, calling for stronger partnerships among the NADF, theย Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, the Jigawa State Government, traditional institutions, development partners, and private-sector agro-dealers. By working together, they aim to scale up production, create thousands of rural jobs, curb food inflation, and position Jigawa State at the forefront of Nigeria’s food security efforts.
