By: Monday Danladi, Bauchi
Bauchi State Governo, Sen Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, has declared that he is a big, full time all season farmer aside from being a politician.
He therefore challenged tradional rulers and politicians in the State to embrace agriculture practices in all ramifications, on and off season in order to become producers of food and not consumers alone.
The Governor threw the challenge on Monday in Sarma village, village in Akuyam District of Misau LGA, when he formally launched the 2025/2026 dry season farming programme alongside the sale of fertilizer and other agricultural inputs.
Bala Mohammed butressed the challenge saying,, “As you see me, I am a full time farmer, I farm more than 30 hectares all year round, so is my friend, Deputy National Chairman of our great party, PDP, Hamza Koshe Akuyam as well as the State PDP Chairman, Samaila Burga.”
He added, “We produce the food we eat and then take to the market for the public at reduced prices. We are not just politicians who are not productive. I call on all of you to join our league of big time farmers.”
The Governor further challenged the Emir of Misau, Ahmed Suleiman, to either allocate the vast farmland in the area to productive farmers or he will personally allocate it to those who will cultivate it.
Bala Mohammed called on traditional rulers, community leaders, and other stakeholders to play active roles in ensuring peace, security, and patience, particularly in fostering peaceful coexistence between farmers and herders.
He then cautioned traditional rulers against indiscriminate allocation or sale of reserve lands, stressing that such lands are meant for long-term communal use, including designated grazing areas, and warned that government would intervene where abuses occur.
The Governor also emphasized his administration’s commitment to promoting year-round agricultural production through irrigation, modern farming techniques, and improved practices, stressing that farming in the State must go beyond seasonal activities.
He then warned that the government has zero tolerance for criminal elements hiding in farms or forests to perpetrate their criminal activities.
He described the relationship between farmers and herders as symbiotic, noting that Bauchi State’s peace, hospitality, and fertile land have continued to attract investors from within and outside Nigeria into the agricultural and livestock sectors.
The Governor stressed that agricultural investment in the State has grown significantly, with large-scale farmers now cultivating thousands of hectares of land using irrigation and modern technology, adding that many political leaders have embraced farming as a sustainable business.
Bala Mohammed explained that the government supports farmers through subsidized fertilizer, access to inputs, and incentive-based support systems, aimed at reducing poverty, increasing productivity, and strengthening food security.
The Governor said Bauchi’s agrarian strength has guided deliberate reforms since 2019, including the revival of extension services, fertilizer subsidy of up to 40 percent, mechanisation support, and the reactivation of the state’s fertilizer blending plant.
Bala Mohammed disclosed plans to procure hundreds of additional tractors, strengthen a transparent hiring system for smallholder farmers, and expand irrigation to make farming a year-round enterprise.
Hr also highlighted youth and women empowerment through skills acquisition, strategic partnerships with the World Bank and international firms, and science-based farming practices driven by soil mapping and climate information.
He assured farmers of improved security, storage facilities, and cooperative-driven interventions to ensure inputs reach genuine beneficiaries.
Urging communities to protect public assets and use land responsibly, the governor emphasized peaceful coexistence between farmers and herders.
He noted that agriculture must unite communities and sustain future generations. “Today, we are not just planting crops,” he said. “We are planting prosperity and building a peaceful, food-secure Bauchi.”
Earlier, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Iliyasu Aliyu Gital, assured farmers of timely distribution of fertilizers and inputs.
He pledged full implementation of approved interventions, as stakeholders, farmers’ associations, and community leaders were present at the ceremony to witness the launch.
He revealed that arrangements have been completed for the distribution of mini-tractors, water pumps, knapsack sprayers, fertilizers, improved rice and maize seeds, as well as herbicides to registered cooperative societies to ensure accountability and impact.
The Commissioner reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to diligent implementation and measurable results.
In a brief welcome address delivered on behalf of the Local Government Chairman, the Deputy Chairman, Alhaji Garba Muhammad, thanked Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed for choosing the area to host the launch, describing it as a strong sign of his commitment to grassroots development and farmers’ welfare.
Similarly, the Emir of Jama’are and the host Emir, in their goodwill messages, commended the Governor’s investments in agriculture and rural development, assuring him of the traditional institution’s full support in mobilizing farmers for greater productivity.
Some of the farming inputs
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