- FG sets ₦160bn wheat output target under the 2025/2026 dry season programme.
- 40,000 hectares and 80,000 farmers registered nationwide for wheat expansion.
- Borno receives 3,000 hectares and 6,000 farmers for the new planting cycle.
- NAGS-AP to deploy extension agents and enforce strict input quality control.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, has announced that the Federal Government aims to generate an output value of about ₦160 billion from wheat production during the 2025/2026 dry season, marking a major step toward food sovereignty and increased national productivity.
Kyari made the disclosure at the official flag-off of the Subsidised Agricultural Inputs Distribution for the 2025/2026 wheat programme, held under the NAGS-AP initiative in Jere Local Government Area of Borno State. He said the ministry has allocated 40,000 hectares for the new wheat cycle and registered 80,000 farmers across the country.
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According to him, Borno State received 3,000 hectares out of the total allocation, with 6,000 registered wheat farmers expected to participate in the dry-season activities.
The minister also reviewed the progress recorded in previous cycles. He recalled that in the 2023/2024 dry season, more than 107,000 farmers benefited from subsidised inputs, resulting in an estimated production value of ₦474.6 million. In the 2024/2025 season, over 279,000 farmers were supported, producing output worth ₦893.7 million.
For the current season, Kyari said the goal is to strengthen farmer participation, improve yields, and push Nigeria closer to its long-term wheat sufficiency target. Through NAGS-AP, agricultural extension agents will be deployed to guide farmers on modern agronomic practices, while fertiliser and seed quality control officers will ensure that all inputs meet required standards.
He noted that the wheat component of the programme now cuts across sixteen states, including Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Cross River, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Niger, Plateau, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe and Zamfara. The inclusion of Cross River State last year extended wheat cultivation to the southern region for the first time.
Kyari emphasised that the scheme is designed to be inclusive, giving smallholder farmers, women and young people equal access to training, quality inputs and opportunities that can boost their income and improve local productivity. He stressed that certified seeds, correct fertiliser blends and timely access to crop protection products remain the backbone of any successful planting season.
In his remarks, Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for its consistent support toward irrigation farming and food production in the state. He described the programme as a symbol of renewed hope, especially for communities affected by insecurity, displacement and climate shocks.
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Zulum reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to supporting all-year farming by providing irrigation infrastructure, modern farm machinery, improved seeds and logistics to farmers across Borno State.
Speaking on behalf of the smallholder farmers, Alhaji Haruna Umaru pledged that farmers would intensify production in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for agriculture.
The ceremony ended with the distribution of subsidised inputs to farmers participating in the 2025/2026 wheat production cycle.
