KACRAN Backs Yobe’s ₦28.5bn Agriculture Programme, Urges Wider Adoption Across Nigeria

By Bukar BOLORI

The Kulen Allah Cattle Rearers Association of Nigeria (KACRAN) has endorsed the Yobe State Government’s newly approved ₦28.531 billion Agricultural Empowerment Programme for 2026, describing it as a major investment capable of boosting food security, increasing agricultural productivity and strengthening the state’s economy.

In a statement signed by its National President, Hon. Khalil Bello, the association praised Governor Mai Mala Buni for what it described as sustained commitment to agriculture since assuming office in May 2019.

KACRAN said the governor’s early decision to convene an Agricultural Summit and establish an expert committee headed by Professor Abba Gambo laid the foundation for policies that have improved agricultural production across the state.

According to the association, the state’s investments in tractors, fertilisers, solar-powered irrigation pumps and other farm inputs have enhanced productivity while making support available to farmers through subsidised and free distribution programmes.

The group also commended the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Hon. Ali Mustapha Goniri, describing his appointment as a strategic decision that has strengthened implementation of government agricultural policies.

KACRAN said the commissioner had demonstrated commitment, accessibility and transparency in ensuring that government interventions reached farmers and livestock rearers at the grassroots.

The association particularly welcomed the state government’s decision to reduce tractor hiring charges from ₦100,000 to ₦50,000 per day, saying the move would make mechanised farming more accessible to smallholder farmers and encourage increased cultivation.

It noted that with more than 70 per cent of Yobe’s population depending on agriculture, the sector remains central to the state’s economy and its role as a supplier of food to several Nigerian states and neighbouring Niger Republic.

KACRAN urged farmers across the state to maximise the opportunities created by the government’s interventions by increasing production and making food available at affordable prices.

The association also called on the Federal Government, state governments and local government councils to adopt similar policies that prioritise agricultural investment, subsidised inputs and affordable mechanisation as strategies for improving national food security and stimulating economic growth.

It maintained that sustained investment in agriculture remained one of the most effective ways to improve livelihoods, create jobs and strengthen Nigeria’s economy.