By Khalid Idris Doya Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed of Bauchi State has described the repositioning of agriculture as placing it at the ...
By Khalid Idris Doya
Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed of Bauchi State has described the repositioning of agriculture as placing it at the centre of food security, prosperity, job creation and wealth generation in the state.
He said: “When we assumed office in 2019, we understood one clear truth — that Bauchi is an agrarian state. Our prosperity is tied to the soil and to the farm. We therefore launched a comprehensive agricultural policy as a roadmap for transforming the entire value chain, from production to processing and marketing.”
To further strengthen the sector, the governor disclosed that the state is set to establish an additional production line worth about ₦2 billion to enhance viability and output.
Speaking on Monday at the launch of the 2025/2026 dry season farming in Akuyam, Misau Local Government Area, Governor Mohammed said his administration revived the Bauchi State Agricultural Development Programme (BASDP), restored its funding, and strengthened extension services to ensure farmers receive direct guidance in their communities.
He added that the government reactivated the Bauchi State Agricultural Supply Company (BASAC) to guarantee the regular supply of quality fertilisers, agrochemicals and farming implements at subsidised rates. He noted that the state’s fertiliser blending plant was revived after years of dormancy, with over ₦1 billion in liabilities cleared.
“Today, the Bauchi Fertiliser Blending Plant is recognised as one of the best in the market. Our vision is to make Bauchi a fertiliser hub in the North-East. We are working assiduously to attract investors from within and outside the country, leveraging the availability of the necessary minerals required for fertiliser production,” he said.
The governor stressed the need to ensure that government services reach smallholder and peasant farmers so they can feel the impact of the administration’s interventions.
He revealed that over the past three years, the state has trained 1,250 youths and women at its skills acquisition centre, with each beneficiary receiving starter packs worth ₦400,000 to establish agricultural businesses.
Governor Mohammed pledged continued support for farmers through sustained provision of subsidised fertilisers, improved inputs and other incentives aimed at boosting productivity, reducing poverty and strengthening food security across the state.
He explained that the dry season farming initiative is designed to expand irrigation, promote modern farming techniques and ensure year-round cultivation, thereby moving agriculture beyond seasonal practice and sustainably advancing the state’s economy.
The governor urged traditional rulers, community leaders and other stakeholders to maintain peace, promote patience and encourage harmonious relations between farmers and herders. He warned against criminal elements hiding in forests and farmlands to perpetrate insecurity.
Describing farmers and herders as interdependent, he said Bauchi’s peaceful environment, hospitality and fertile land continue to attract investors into agriculture and livestock production, thereby creating jobs and boosting incomes.
Governor Mohammed also cautioned traditional rulers against the indiscriminate allocation or sale of reserved lands, stressing that such lands are meant for long-term communal needs, including designated grazing areas. He warned that the government would intervene where abuses occur.
Earlier, the State Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Iliyasu Aliyu Gital, said BASDP is now more field-oriented, ensuring that extension agents work closely with communities and farmers to provide guidance on improved farming techniques, climate-smart practices, case management and proper utilisation of inputs.
Dr Gital assured farmers of the timely distribution of inputs and pledged full implementation of all agricultural interventions.
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