Kebbi State has reaffirmed its position as one of Nigeria’s leading agricultural hubs, unveiling a range of initiatives aimed at boosting food production, tackling climate change, and attracting investment into the sector.
Speaking on the TradeFm’s Breakfast Business Briefing themed “Cultivating Prosperity: From Seed to Table, the Future of Nigerian Agriculture,” the state commissioner for agriculture Alhaji Shehu Mu’azu said it has adopted measures to reduce the cost of farming through the provision of solar-powered and LPG irrigation pumps, mechanised equipment, and subsidised farm inputs.
The government noted that Kebbi produces about three million metric tonnes of rice annually, alongside significant quantities of onions, soybeans, maize, sorghum, and livestock, making substantial contributions to Nigeria’s food security and price stability.
To address the impact of climate change, the state has introduced climate-smart agricultural practices, including the distribution of resilient seed varieties, weather-based farming advisories, and residual moisture farming, which allows farmers to cultivate crops after floods recede.
Kebbi also said it is strengthening the agricultural value chain through rice mills, agro-processing industries, and participation in the African Development Bank-backed Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones programme to increase value addition and reduce post-harvest losses.
The state government disclosed that women and youths remain a priority, with at least 40 per cent of agricultural interventions reserved for them, while digital extension services and farm mechanisation are helping to attract more young people into agriculture.
On investment opportunities, the government highlighted plans for a 100-hectare agro-processing hub equipped with essential infrastructure and encouraged investors to take advantage of the state’s abundant agricultural resources and business-friendly environment.
The government expressed optimism that technology-driven and climate-resilient agriculture would further strengthen Kebbi’s role in enhancing food security, creating jobs, and driving economic growth in Nigeria.
