FG seeks to weed out ‘briefcase farmers’ benefitting from agricultural programmes

The federal government is set to commence an audit and registration of farmers nationwide to ensure only genuine beneficiaries access agricultural interventions.

Aliyu Abdullahi, minister of state for agriculture and food security, announced the initiative during a technical session of the government-citizen engagement forum in Kaduna on Wednesday.

The forum was organised by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation (SABMF).

Abdullahi said the move aims to end the era of “briefcase farmers”.

He explained that the administration of President Bola Tinubu has introduced bold, data-driven reforms to revive agriculture, boost food production, and stop the capture of farming incentives by elites.

“Only genuine farmers will benefit from government programmes. No more briefcase farmers,” he said.

“Our priority is simple: ramp up production, reduce food prices, and ensure equitable access to support. We met a food crisis and responded with data-backed, targeted actions.”

Abdullahi said under the agro-pocket initiative, over 133,000 hectares of wheat have been cultivated across 15 northern states, surpassing the initial target of 130,000 hectares.

He said Jigawa accounted for more than 50,000 hectares.

The minister also spoke of plans to support 44,500 rice farmers nationwide through an improved extension service system, addressing the current extension-to-farmer ratio of 1 to 25,000.

On mechanisation, Abdullahi said Tinubu had launched 2,000 Belarusian tractors and 9,000 implements to modernise farming and increase food production.

He added that special agro-processing zones are being developed to improve market access and value addition, enabling farmers to earn higher returns.

The minister said agricultural research institutions have been empowered to release improved seed varieties, including new strains of maize, rice, cassava, and tomato resistant to diseases.

On the livestock sector, he said government is focusing on sustainable development through grazing reserves, livestock villages, and transit shelters, with a national dairy policy in progress.

Abdullahi said three dam projects — Nwabi Yashin, Nwape, and Amla — have been completed, unlocking over 2,700 hectares for irrigation, adding that plans are also underway to concession mini-hydro dams to provide off-grid power to farming communities.

He noted that government is laying the foundation for future resilience by reclaiming university farmlands, training youths and women, and reforming agricultural governance structures.

The minister urged northern stakeholders to confront persons sabotaging agricultural reforms.