Nigeria’s Gombe State has launched a subsidised fertiliser programme that will see farmers buy 50-kilogram bags of NPK fertiliser at half the market price as part of efforts to increase agricultural output and strengthen food security.
Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya on Tuesday inaugurated the 2026 wet season sale and distribution programme, under which the state government procured 12,000 metric tonnes of NPK 20:10:10 fertiliser, equivalent to about 240,000 bags.
The fertiliser will be sold to farmers at 32,000 naira (US$23.33) per 50kg bag, representing a 50 percent discount on prevailing market prices.
Yahaya said the initiative demonstrated his administration’s commitment to reviving agriculture and maintaining Gombe’s position as one of Nigeria’s major farming regions.
Beyond fertiliser support, the state government said it would provide farmers with agricultural equipment and machinery free of charge to improve productivity.
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The equipment includes water pumps, motorised weeders, sprayers, rice transplanters, peanut shellers, rice and maize planters and harvesters, rice milling machines, walking tractors, and oil processing machines.
The governor, however, cautioned that subsidised inputs alone would not transform agriculture unless farmers adopt modern and climate-smart farming methods.
He urged farmers to reduce dependence on traditional rain-fed agriculture and embrace improved farming practices supported by weather information and agricultural extension services.
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“Aligning farming activities with scientific forecasts will help reduce the risks of drought, flooding, and pest infestations,” Yahaya said.
He also stressed the importance of maintaining peaceful relations between farmers and herders, calling for stronger cooperation among security agencies, traditional leaders and community groups to prevent conflicts in farming areas.
Gombe State has invested billions of naira since 2019 in subsidising fertilisers, pesticides, herbicides, water pumps and other agricultural inputs, according to the governor.
The state is also working with the federal government and development partners through programmes including the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP), the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL), and the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES).
Yahaya said a special fertiliser distribution committee had been established to ensure transparency and prevent diversion, illegal sales and fraud.
Security agencies have been directed to monitor the process, with the governor warning that anyone found undermining the programme would face legal action.
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The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security praised the initiative, saying timely access to affordable farm inputs would support farmers and contribute to increased food production.
The state chapter of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria also commended the programme, describing it as part of broader efforts to strengthen agricultural development and address challenges facing farmers.
The move comes as Nigerian states intensify support for agriculture amid rising food prices and efforts by the federal government to improve domestic food production.
