FG Rolls Out Wheat Programme To Cut Import Dependence
By HALIMA TAKWAS
NIGERIA is targeting an estimated ₦160 billion in wheat output during the 2025/2026 dry season as part of renewed efforts to boost food sovereignty and cut reliance on imports. The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, disclosed this during the launch of the subsidised agricultural inputs distribution for dry-season wheat production under the National Agricultural Growth and Agro Pocket Project in Jere Local Government Area of Borno State.
Kyari said the programme has earmarked 40,000 hectares nationwide and registered 80,000 farmers for the current season, with Borno State receiving 3,000 hectares and 6,000 farmers. He noted that the initiative builds on gains recorded in previous seasons, where over 100,000 farmers were supported in 2023/2024 and nearly 280,000 in 2024/2025, producing significantly higher output values.
According to the minister, the programme will deploy agricultural extension agents to provide farmers with modern agronomic guidance, while fertiliser and seed quality officers will ensure that inputs meet required standards. He explained that wheat production under the programme now spans 16 states, including the inclusion of Cross River, which marked the expansion of wheat cultivation into southern Nigeria.
Kyari emphasised that women and youths remain a core focus of the initiative, stressing that access to quality inputs, training and transparent delivery systems is essential to improving yields and farmer incomes. He added that certified seeds and timely fertiliser distribution remain critical to achieving national production targets.
Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, commended the Federal Government’s commitment to food security and irrigation development, describing the state as a major agricultural frontier due to its vast irrigable land in the Lake Chad Basin. He reaffirmed his administration’s resolve to sustain all-season farming and expand support for farmers despite insecurity and climate challenges.
