Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has flagged off the distribution of 500 truckloads of subsidized fertilizer for the 2026 farming season, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to boosting agricultural production, ensuring food security and improving the livelihoods of farmers across the state.
Speaking during the launch in Jos South Local Government Area on Friday, the governor described agriculture as the backbone of Plateau State’s economy and urged farmers not to be discouraged by the prevailing security challenges.
“The fact that we are going to farm is part of our testimony of resilience,” Mutfwang said, assuring residents that no challenge would prevent the state from maintaining its reputation as one of Nigeria’s leading food-producing states.
He disclosed that the government had already commenced the distribution of improved potato seedlings and would continue to provide critical agricultural inputs to support increased productivity and bumper harvests.
The governor explained that the fertilizer was jointly procured by the state government and the 17 local government councils as part of efforts to strengthen agricultural development.
According to him, the fertilizer will be sold to genuine farmers at a subsidized rate of N20,000 per bag, significantly below the prevailing market price, to make the input more affordable.
Mutfwang said the intervention forms part of his administration’s strategy to deliver the dividends of democracy through programs that stimulate economic growth, enhance food production and improve household incomes.
He added that the initiative would also cushion the losses incurred by farmers following last year’s decline in food prices.
The governor further announced plans for the state government to purchase harvested produce directly from farmers to protect them from exploitation by middlemen, guarantee a ready market and ensure better returns on their investments.
He encouraged community farming and collaboration among residents, noting that collective farming efforts would not only improve productivity but also strengthen security and resilience within communities.
Mutfwang assured farmers that fertilizer and other agricultural inputs would be made available consistently during both the rainy and dry seasons to sustain year-round food production.
According to him, sustained access to quality farm inputs will increase food production, create employment opportunities across the agricultural value chain, strengthen agro-processing industries and revive prosperity in farming communities.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Samson Bugama, commended the governor for approving the procurement of 500 truckloads of assorted fertilizer, describing it as more than double the quantity distributed in previous years.
He revealed that fertilizer distribution had already commenced through 18 designated distribution centres across the state using a technology-driven system designed to ensure transparency and accountability.
Bugama explained that beneficiaries receive SMS notifications indicating when and where to collect their fertilizer, while a digital tracking system enables the ministry to monitor every bag from the warehouse to the final beneficiary.
He said the system was designed to ensure that every bag reaches genuine farmers and is used for its intended purpose.
Also speaking, the Chairman of Jos South Local Government Area, Silas Patrick Dung, thanked the governor for choosing the council to host the statewide flag-off ceremony and expressed confidence that the intervention would contribute to a successful 2026 farming season.
Stakeholders at the event described the fertilizer distribution program as a major step towards agricultural transformation, expressing optimism that it would boost food production, create jobs, improve rural livelihoods and reinforce Plateau State’s position as a leading agricultural hub in Nigeria.
