The Kulen Allah Cattle Rearers Association of Nigeria (KACRAN) has thrown its weight behind the Yobe State Government’s ₦28.531 billion Agricultural Empowerment Programme for 2026, describing the initiative as a strategic investment that will enhance food security, boost agricultural productivity and strengthen the state’s economy.
In a statement signed by its National President, Hon. Khalil Bello, the association commended Governor Mai Mala Buni for sustaining agriculture as a priority since assuming office in May 2019, saying his administration had consistently implemented policies that have transformed the sector.
KACRAN noted that the governor’s decision to convene an Agricultural Summit shortly after taking office and constitute an expert committee led by Professor Abba Gambo provided the blueprint for reforms that have significantly improved agricultural production across the state.
The association said successive investments in tractors, fertilisers, solar-powered irrigation pumps and other farming inputs had expanded access to modern farming tools through subsidised and free distribution programmes, resulting in increased productivity.
It also praised the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Hon. Ali Mustapha Goniri, describing his appointment as a strategic move that has strengthened the implementation of the state’s agricultural policies.
According to KACRAN, the commissioner has demonstrated commitment, transparency and accessibility in ensuring that government interventions effectively reach farmers and livestock rearers at the grassroots.
The association particularly welcomed the state government’s decision to slash tractor hiring fees from ₦100,000 to ₦50,000 per day, describing the measure as a major relief for smallholder farmers and a significant step towards expanding mechanised farming across the state.
It observed that with more than 70 per cent of Yobe’s population relying on agriculture for their livelihoods, continued investment in the sector remains critical to economic growth and food production. It added that Yobe plays an important role in supplying agricultural produce to several states across Nigeria as well as neighbouring Niger Republic.
KACRAN urged farmers to take full advantage of the government’s interventions by increasing cultivation and boosting food production to help stabilise prices and improve food availability.
The association further called on the Federal Government, state governments and local government councils to replicate Yobe’s model by prioritising agricultural investment, subsidising farm inputs and expanding access to affordable mechanisation.
It maintained that sustained investment in agriculture remains one of the most effective pathways to creating jobs, improving rural livelihoods, strengthening food security and driving Nigeria’s economic development.
