The Gombe State Government has commenced the distribution of 12,000 tonnes of subsidised fertiliser to farmers, aiming to bolster agricultural productivity and strengthen food security.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya inaugurated the exercise for the 2026 cropping season on Tuesday, announcing that the commodities would be sold at a 50 per cent subsidy to cushion the impact of rising input costs.
The government procured 240,000 bags of NPK and Urea fertilisers at N64,000 per 50-kilogramme bag and will retail them at half the price, the governor explained.
In addition, the administration will distribute free of charge 833 water pumps, 450 motorised weeders, 544 motorised sprayers, 550 rice transplanters, 350 groundnut shellers, 50 rice and maize planters/harvesters, 50 rice milling machines, 45 tractors, and 20 oil filtering and pressing machines.
“Our farmers are confronted with mounting challenges that threaten their survival,” Mr Yahaya stated. “This subsidy is our direct response to the harsh economic realities facing our farming communities. It is our way of saying that we will not abandon those who feed the nation.”
The governor noted that his administration has invested billions of naira in fertiliser subsidies and input provision, supporting approximately 80 per cent of the state’s population. He urged farmers to adopt modern agricultural practices, including dry-season farming and weather advisories, to improve productivity and resilience to climate challenges.
A special committee has been established to ensure transparency and prevent diversion of the commodities.
Ahmed Guli, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Cooperatives, commended the initiative and assured that the distribution would be conducted effectively. He called on stakeholders to cooperate with the ministry to achieve the desired results and enjoined farmers to utilise the inputs to boost their output.
