Kebbi State has reiterated its position as one of Nigeria’s top agricultural centres, unveiling a series of initiatives aimed at increasing food production, addressing climate change, and attracting investment into the sector.
Speaking on 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, stated that the state has implemented measures to lower farming costs through the distribution of solar-powered and LPG irrigation pumps, mechanised equipment, and subsidised inputs.
The government noted that Kebbi produces around three million metric tonnes of rice annually, along with significant quantities of onions, soybeans, maize, sorghum, and livestock, contributing notably to Nigeria’s food security and price stability.
To combat the effects 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 enables farmers to grow crops after floods have subsided.
Kebbi also mentioned efforts to strengthen the agricultural value chain through rice mills, agro-processing industries, and participation in the African Development Bank-backed Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones programme, with the aim of increasing value addition and reducing post-harvest losses.
The state government highlighted that women and youths remain a priority, with at least 40 per cent of agricultural initiatives allocated to them, while digital extension services and farm mechanisation are helping to attract more young people into agriculture.
Regarding investment opportunities, the government outlined plans for a 100-hectare agro-processing hub equipped with essential infrastructure and encouraged investors to leverage the state’s abundant agricultural resources and business-friendly environment.
The government expressed confidence that technology-driven and climate-resilient agriculture would further enhance Kebbi’s role in strengthening food security, creating jobs, and promoting economic growth in Nigeria.
