Agriculture
Harvest Plus, UK Aid, and Gombe State Government Collaborate on Agricultural Policy Development

By our correspondent.
Gombe State recently hosted a two-day stakeholders’ consultative workshop organized by Harvest Plus, UK Aid, and the Gombe State Government. The event aimed to develop a comprehensive agricultural policy for the state, focusing on climate change adaptation and nutrition-smart crops in Northern Nigeria.
The workshop gathered representatives from various ministries and organizations, who discussed strategies to mitigate the impact of climate change on agriculture. The State Commissioner for Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, and Cooperatives, Barnabas Malle, represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Ibrahim Yakubu, highlighted the workshop’s importance, noting that Gombe State currently lacks an official agricultural policy. He emphasized the ministry’s commitment to collaborating with stakeholders to develop this crucial document.
Responding Muhammad Sa’idu Fawu, State Commissioner for Water Resources, Environment, and Forestry, discussed the ministry’s ongoing efforts to enhance irrigation farming to improve food security. He pledged full support for the creation of a comprehensive agricultural policy.
Also speaking Salihu Baba Alkali, State Commissioner for Budget, Planning, and Development, praised Harvest Plus for organizing the event and stressed the importance of his ministry’s role in formulating a smart agricultural policy to achieve food sufficiency in Gombe State.
In her response Hajiya Hadiza Umar Abubakar, Gombe State Coordinator of Harvest Plus, explained that the workshop aimed to create a policy document aligned with the needs of local farmers to enhance food security. She also noted that addressing the adverse effects of climate change on agriculture was a key focus of the event.
Participants included small-scale farmers’ organizations, traditional leaders, government officials, and Harvest Plus staff. The collaborative effort seeks to produce a sustainable and effective agricultural policy to benefit Gombe State’s agricultural sector.
Agriculture
Inuwa Yahaya Launches Subsidised Fertiliser Sales to Boost 2025 Wet Season Farming in Gombe

By Our Correspondent
Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, has officially flagged off the sales of fertiliser for the 2025 wet farming season, as part of ongoing efforts to boost agricultural productivity and support farmers across the state.
Speaking during the flag-off ceremony, Governor Inuwa Yahaya revealed that the state government had procured a total of 10,000 tonnes of NPK 20:10:10 fertiliser at the cost of ₦44,000 per bag, but will be sold to farmers at a subsidised rate of ₦27,000 per bag. This, he said, is aimed at easing the financial burden on farmers and ensuring access to essential agricultural inputs.
The Governor stressed that timely access to fertiliser is crucial for increasing crop yields, strengthening food security, and driving economic growth in the state.
He directed the State Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, in collaboration with security agencies, to strictly monitor the sales and distribution process in order to prevent diversion and ensure the fertilisers reach the intended grassroots beneficiaries.
Governor Inuwa also appealed to farmers to respect designated grazing reserves and cattle routes. He advised herders to avoid grazing on farmlands before harvest, in order to prevent conflicts and safeguard crops.
Earlier, the State Commissioner for Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Cooperatives, Barnabas Malle, commended Governor Yahaya for his agricultural development strides, particularly the establishment of the 184-hectare Agro-Livestock Industrial Zone. According to him, the zone hosts strategic facilities including an ultra-modern abattoir, an international livestock market, an international grains market, and an inland dry port, among others.
Commissioner Malle also appealed to local government chairmen and stakeholders to cooperate with ministry officials to ensure the smooth and effective implementation of the fertiliser distribution exercise.
In his remarks, the State Coordinator of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Absalom Akwaras Lansibol, acknowledged the pivotal role of the Gombe State Government in ensuring timely and affordable access to quality farm inputs. He praised the administration’s sustained commitment to agricultural development, noting its alignment with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Agricultural Transformation Initiative.
Agriculture
Obasanjo Flags Off Premier Seed’s Tech-Driven Factory in Gombe, Backs Agro-Industrial Growth

By Our Correspondent
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Gombe State Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya have jointly commissioned a state-of-the-art seed processing factory established by Premier Seed Nigeria Limited at the Muhammadu Buhari Industrial Park, Dadinkowa, in Yamaltu Deba Local Government Area.
The facility is equipped with cutting-edge technology for cleaning, grading, treating, and packaging climate-resilient seed varieties, and is poised to transform the seed supply system across Nigeria. It is expected to significantly boost agricultural productivity, enhance food security, and support the country’s climate adaptation efforts.
Speaking at the event, former President Obasanjo described the Muhammadu Buhari Industrial Park as a game-changer for sustainable economic development. He lauded Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s visionary leadership, emphasizing that access to quality seeds is critical for a successful agricultural value chain.
He also noted the strategic advantage of the Industrial Park’s proximity to the 40MW Dadinkowa Hydropower Plant and commended Premier Seed for deploying world-class machinery.
In his remarks, Governor Inuwa Yahaya expressed delight at the commissioning of the facility, describing it as a major milestone in his administration’s agro-industrial transformation agenda.
He noted that Premier Seed’s investment reflects growing investor confidence in the Muhammadu Buhari Industrial Park, which already hosts essential infrastructure such as paved roads, power supply, potable water, and high-speed internet connectivity.
The governor also spotlighted complementary initiatives, including the 184-hectare Agro-Livestock Development Zone and the proposed International Grains and Livestock Market, aimed at positioning Gombe as a leading agro-economic hub in Nigeria.
Premier Seed’s Managing Director, Mr. Ibitoye Oyewale, acknowledged the support of the UK-funded Propcom+ programme in realizing the project.
Propcom+’s Country Representative Dr. Adiya Ode emphasized that the factory aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s food security drive and Gombe State’s ambitious transformation vision.
Also speaking, the Director-General of the National Agricultural Seed Council, Hon. Futuhu Mohammed, commended the initiative and pledged the Council’s commitment to ensuring that seed quality standards are strictly maintained.
Commissioner for Trade, Investment and Tourism, Nasiru Mohammed Aliyu, disclosed that over ₦22 billion has been invested in the Muhammadu Buhari Industrial Park to date, with 85% of infrastructure already completed. He noted that Gombe is now strategically positioned to attract top-tier investors and become a hub for agribusiness innovation.
Agriculture
Obasanjo Flags Off Premier Seed’s Tech-Driven Factory in Gombe, Backs Agro-Industrial Growth

By Our Correspondent
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Gombe State Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya have jointly commissioned a state-of-the-art seed processing factory established by Premier Seed Nigeria Limited at the Muhammadu Buhari Industrial Park, Dadinkowa, in Yamaltu Deba Local Government Area.
The facility is equipped with cutting-edge technology for cleaning, grading, treating, and packaging climate-resilient seed varieties, and is poised to transform the seed supply system across Nigeria. It is expected to significantly boost agricultural productivity, enhance food security, and support the country’s climate adaptation efforts.
Speaking at the event, former President Obasanjo described the Muhammadu Buhari Industrial Park as a game-changer for sustainable economic development. He lauded Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s visionary leadership, emphasizing that access to quality seeds is critical for a successful agricultural value chain.
He also noted the strategic advantage of the Industrial Park’s proximity to the 40MW Dadinkowa Hydropower Plant and commended Premier Seed for deploying world-class machinery.
In his remarks, Governor Inuwa Yahaya expressed delight at the commissioning of the facility, describing it as a major milestone in his administration’s agro-industrial transformation agenda.
He noted that Premier Seed’s investment reflects growing investor confidence in the Muhammadu Buhari Industrial Park, which already hosts essential infrastructure such as paved roads, power supply, potable water, and high-speed internet connectivity.
The governor also spotlighted complementary initiatives, including the 184-hectare Agro-Livestock Development Zone and the proposed International Grains and Livestock Market, aimed at positioning Gombe as a leading agro-economic hub in Nigeria.
Premier Seed’s Managing Director, Mr. Ibitoye Oyewale, acknowledged the support of the UK-funded Propcom+ programme in realizing the project.
Dr. Abiye Ode of Propcom+ emphasized that the factory aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s food security drive and Gombe State’s ambitious transformation vision.
Also speaking, the Director-General of the National Agricultural Seed Council, Hon. Futuhu Mohammed, commended the initiative and pledged the Council’s commitment to ensuring that seed quality standards are strictly maintained.
Commissioner for Trade, Investment and Tourism, Nasiru Mohammed Aliyu, disclosed that over ₦22 billion has been invested in the Muhammadu Buhari Industrial Park to date, with 85% of infrastructure already completed. He noted that Gombe is now strategically positioned to attract top-tier investors and become a hub for agribusiness innovation.
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