In a significant move to boost agribusiness, the Yobe Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources has revived its agriculture exhibition, providing a vital platform for local government areas to showcase their agricultural potential. This initiative, which was last held in 2006, aims to promote the state’s abundant agricultural resources and products, while also identifying challenges and charting a way forward for the sector.
According to Commissioner Ali Goniri, the exhibition serves as a forum for farmers to exchange ideas, display new innovations, and consolidate past achievements. This effort is part of a broader strategy to support farmers in realizing their full potential, particularly during the dry and rainy seasons. To achieve this, the government has approved the free distribution of farm inputs and equipment to farmers for the 2025 cropping season. These inputs include tractors, improved seeds, solar water pumps, fertilizer, and agro chemicals.
The state government’s commitment to enhancing the agriculture value chain is evident in its direct distribution of agriculture inputs to deserving farmers free of charge. This initiative is expected to have a positive impact on the state’s agricultural sector, building on the success of previous programs. For instance, in 2024, 5,340 farmers benefited from the free distribution of inputs and equipment under the Agriculture Empowerment Programme.
The exhibition, held in collaboration with the Agro Climatic Resilience and Semi-Arid Land Scape (Acresal), featured a range of items, including livestock, improved seeds, farm equipment, and various crops such as sugarcane, mangoes, sesame, fish, and banana. The state Coordinator of Acresal, Shehu Mohammed, pledged increased support to the ministry, highlighting activities such as the training of 178 extension workers and the disbursement of $2.7 million to 111 communities under the Climate Smart Agriculture/Community Revolving Fund programme.
Other notable initiatives include the procurement of 40 tractors, 500 power tillers, 100 sets of solar-powered irrigation pumps, 1000 knapsack sprayers, improved seedlings, and organic fertilizer for distribution to beneficiaries. These efforts demonstrate the government’s dedication to promoting agribusiness and supporting farmers in Yobe State, with the ultimate goal of enhancing agricultural productivity and contributing to the state’s economic growth.
