The Borno State Government has recorded another significant milestone in its agricultural transformation agenda following the successful conduct of the One-Day Validation Workshop on the Recently Concluded Farmers Census, culminating in the unanimous adoption of the Pilot Farmers Census Report and Data by stakeholders.
The workshop, organized by the office of the Honourable Commissioner Borno State Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources in collaboration with the World Food Programme (WFP), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and Action Against Hunger (ACF), brought together senior government officials, development partners, academia, traditional institutions, local government representatives, farmer organizations and technical experts to validate the findings of the pioneering census.
His Excellency, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, CON, mni, FNSE, FNIAE, Executive Governor of Borno State, was ably represented by the Secretary to the State Government and Chairman, Borno State Agricultural Transformation Committee, Hon. Bukar Tijjani, FASN, FSSN, FJAAS, who conveyed the Governor’s unwavering commitment to strengthening evidence-based agricultural planning through credible data systems.
In his address, the SSG commended the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, WFP, FAO, ACF and all stakeholders for their commitment to producing a reliable farmers’ database that will enhance planning, equitable resource allocation and effective delivery of agricultural interventions across the State. He reaffirmed Government’s resolve to scale up the Farmers Census to cover all Local Government Areas of Borno State.
The workshop attracted a broad spectrum of participants, including representatives of WFP, FAO and ACF, senior government officials, members of the State Agricultural Transformation Committee, academia, technical experts, farmer associations, relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies, as well as the Executive Chairmen of Biu, Jere, Konduga, Mafa and Monguno Local Government Areas, where the pilot census was conducted.
Participants were presented with the methodology, implementation process and key findings of the census by Mr. George Agwu of the World Food Programme (WFP) and Professor M. M. Gwary of the Department of Agricultural Extension Services, University of Maiduguri, who provided detailed insights into the scientific approach adopted, quality assurance mechanisms, data validation procedures and preliminary analytical findings.
The pilot exercise, conducted between 9th and 23rd April, 2026, deployed 100 Enumerators, supported by 15 Local Government Coordinators and 10 State Supervisors, and successfully enumerated over 102,000 farmers across the five participating Local Government Areas.
Following extensive technical presentations and interactive discussions, participants unanimously adopted the Census Report and Data, describing it as credible, transparent and capable of serving as a dependable foundation for agricultural planning, policy formulation and investment decisions in Borno State.
In their observations, participants applauded the robust methodology employed, the professionalism of the enumeration teams, the strong collaboration among partners and the active participation of local communities. They noted that the census represents a major step towards establishing a comprehensive digital farmers’ database that will improve targeting of agricultural programmes and strengthen food security interventions.
The Communiqué Session, chaired by Professor M. M. Gwary, considered the comments and recommendations from participants and resolved to adopt the report while recommending, among others:
Immediate adoption of the validated Farmers Census Report as the official pilot database.
Expansion of the census to cover all 27 Local Government Areas of Borno State.
Periodic updating of the farmers’ database to maintain data quality and relevance.
Continued collaboration with development partners and research institutions to strengthen agricultural statistics and digital data management.
Institutionalization of the Farmers Census as a key planning tool for agricultural development and investment.
Participants further expressed profound appreciation to His Excellency, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, for his visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to agricultural transformation, food security and rural development. They equally commended the Honourable Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Engr. Dr. Bawu Musami, for providing strategic leadership throughout the census exercise.
Special appreciation was extended to the World Food Programme (WFP), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Action Against Hunger (ACF), the University of Maiduguri, participating Local Government Councils, traditional institutions, technical experts, supervisors, coordinators, enumerators and farming communities for their invaluable contributions towards the successful implementation of the pilot exercise.
The workshop concluded with a renewed commitment by Government and development partners to deepen collaboration and accelerate preparations for the statewide rollout of the Farmers Census, with stakeholders expressing confidence that the initiative will significantly strengthen agricultural planning, enhance transparency in programme implementation and improve service delivery to farmers across Borno State.
Signed
Bukar Kurama
Director, Agricultural Services
Chairman, 2026 Borno State Farmers Census Technical Committee Lead
