Kebbi Govt Distributes 110 Truckloads of Free Fertiliser, Improved Seeds to 120,000 Farmers
The Kebbi State Government on Wednesday commenced the distribution of 110 truckloads of free fertiliser and 100 metric tonnes of improved, climate-resilient seeds to about 120,000 farmers across the state.
The initiative is to to boost agricultural production, strengthen food security and enhance climate resilience during the current wet season farming.
Governor Nasir Idris, who flagged off the statewide distribution exercise at the Haliru Abdu Stadium, Birnin Kebbi, said the intervention is a strategic investment in agriculture under the Climate Change Adaptation Seed Support Programme and the Kaura Agricultural Development Agenda (KADAGE).
According to the governor, the initiative is aimed at reducing production costs, improving food security and mitigating the adverse effects of climate change on farming communities across the state.
Idris described agriculture as the backbone of Kebbi economy, saying more than 80 per cent of the population depends on farming for livelihood.
He observed that unpredictable rainfall, prolonged dry spells, flooding and increased pest infestations have continued to threaten agricultural productivity, farmers’ incomes and food security.
He explained that the free distribution of fertiliser and improved seeds was a deliberate intervention to cushion these impacts, lower production costs and enable farmers to cultivate with confidence during the 2026 rainy season.
The governor disclosed that 6,000 metric tonnes of NPK fertiliser would be distributed through the state’s 3,743 polling units to ensure the inputs reach genuine farmers directly, thereby eliminating middlemen.
He further announced the distribution of 100 metric tonnes of drought-tolerant and early-maturing millet and rice seeds under the third phase of the Climate Change Adaptation Seed Support Programme.
According to the governor, the seed varieties were carefully selected by agricultural experts for their resilience to erratic rainfall and their capacity to deliver higher yields.
Governor Idris said that the intervention forms part of his administration’s KADAGE programme, which is designed to reduce production costs, improve agricultural productivity and enhance the livelihoods of farmers across Kebbi State.
He highlighted other major agricultural interventions by his administration, including the procurement and distribution of 5,000 power tillers and other farm implements, the revival of the tractor hiring scheme at subsidised rate, expansion of irrigation infrastructure and the state’s participation in the SPIN Project to strengthen irrigation farming and reduce dependence on rainfall.
According to the governor, the state has so far distributed more than 15,000 solar-powered irrigation pumps, 20,000 petrol-powered pumps and 10,000 LPG-powered pumps to farmers, while additional extension workers have been deployed to promote climate-smart agricultural practices across rural communities.
He also disclosed that the administration is working closely with security agencies to safeguard farmlands and protect farmers throughout the farming season.
He warned beneficiaries against diverting or selling the fertiliser and improved seeds, stressing that the inputs are strictly meant for genuine farmers and that anyone found violating the directive would face the full weight of the law.
The governor urged farmers to make judicious use of the inputs in line with the guidance of agricultural extension officers and adopt climate-smart farming practices to maximise productivity.
He also appealed to traditional and community leaders to ensure transparency, accountability and fairness in the distribution process. Governor Idris expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and development partners for their continued support towards agricultural development in Kebbi State.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Alhaji Shehu Mu’azu, said the release of the 110 truckloads of fertiliser was in fulfilment of the governors’ annual commitment under KADAGE to provide free agricultural inputs to farmers across the state.
He said the administration’s agricultural policy focuses on the provision of free farm inputs, promotion of dry-season farming and climate resilience initiatives aimed at increasing food production and improving the livelihoods of rural farmers.
Mu’azu recalled that the ministry had already distributed 5,000 power tillers, 6,000 metric tonnes of fertiliser annually and about 45,000 solar-powered and fuel-powered irrigation pumps to farmers across the state.
He added that, in addition to the 110 truckloads of fertiliser, the government would also distribute 100 metric tonnes of improved seed varieties to farmers for the 2026 wet season.
Also speaking, the Secretary to the Kebbi State Government (SSG), Alhaji Yakubu Bala-Tafida, warned against the diversion or sale of the fertiliser, disclosing that the government had constituted the annual fertiliser distribution committee comprising commissioners, members of the State House of Assembly, special advisers, local government chairmen, traditional rulers and security agencies.
He said the committee was mandated to ensure transparent, equitable and accountable distribution of the fertiliser across the state’s 225 wards and 3,743 polling units.
The SSG stressed that the fertiliser bears a unique government identity and is not meant for sale, warning that anyone found diverting or selling the commodity would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
