Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has officially started the 2026 state wet farming season, launching a 50 per cent fertiliser subsidy scheme alongside the free distribution of agricultural assets to 120,000 smallholder farmers.
Unveiled at the Kwaya Kusar Main Stadium, the initiative will directly lower production costs, maximise crop yields, and protect the state’s agricultural value chains against regional food supply shocks.
The ceremony featured the deployment of 200 truckloads of high-quality NPK fertiliser, which the state government has mandated must be sold to local growers at half the current market price.
Governor Zulum oversaw the direct distribution of critical farm implements, including free certified seeds, agrochemicals, knapsack sprayers, water pumps, bicycles, and post-harvest storage facilities.
The Governor cautioned beneficiaries against reselling or hoarding the materials, emphasising that the distribution is strictly intended to enhance food security and support the livelihoods of returnees and small-scale farmers.
Beyond direct field inputs, the intervention integrates a broader economic stabilisation framework for rural households. Governor Zulum announced a ₦500 million cash support package specifically targeting vulnerable persons, women, and young people across Biu, Hawul, Kwaya Kusar, Shani, and Bayo Local Government Areas.
The State Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Bawu Musami, noted that these sustained capital investments are systematically positioning Borno among the country’s leading agricultural producers by modernising rural extension networks and developing regional irrigation infrastructure.
The flag-off drew strong backing from national legislative representatives who urged a return to localised marketing innovations.
Speaking at the stadium, the Senator representing Borno South, Mohammed Ali Ndume, commended the comprehensive input drive and called for the immediate revival of Borno State’s annual agricultural show to encourage smallholder competition and showcase the state’s emerging food-processing potential.
The Governor concluded by reiterating that his administration’s long-term focus remains the commercial transformation of the livestock and crop value chains through equitable financing and digital market access under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Source: Radio Nigeria
Image Credit: Punch News
