Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani has launched the distribution of 500 truckloads of free fertiliser and tractors to 150,000 smallholder farmers across the state’s 23 local government areas, saying the initiative underscores his administration’s commitment to strengthening food production and supporting rural livelihoods.
The latest intervention marks the third consecutive year the state government has provided fertiliser free of charge to farmers. In 2025, the administration distributed 400 truckloads of fertiliser to 100,000 farmers, while more than 500 truckloads and other farm inputs were supplied during the 2024 dry-season farming programme.
Speaking during the flag-off ceremony at Murtala Mohammed Square on Saturday, Governor Sani described the initiative as one of the largest fertiliser support programmes by any state government in Nigeria. He said the objective was to cushion the impact of rising agricultural production costs and prevent a decline in cultivation and food output.
According to the governor, although he was advised to sell the fertiliser at a subsidised rate of ₦20,000 per bag after purchasing it for ₦56,000, his administration opted for free distribution because even the subsidised price would have been unaffordable for many smallholder farmers.
He also argued that selling the fertiliser could have allowed large-scale farmers and middlemen to buy it in bulk and resell it at inflated prices, thereby defeating the purpose of the subsidy.
Governor Sani said agriculture contributes about 43 per cent to Kaduna State’s Gross Domestic Product and provides employment for between 60 and 80 per cent of the state’s active workforce. He added that improved security had enabled thousands of farmers to return to their farms, noting that about 5,000 hectares of farmland had been reclaimed with the support of local communities and the Federal Government.
Highlighting Kaduna’s agricultural potential, the governor said the state remains a leading producer of maize, tomatoes and ginger, stressing that agriculture remains central to food security, industrial growth, job creation and rural development.
He recalled that the agriculture sector received only ₦1.48 billion, representing about 0.4 per cent of the state budget, when his administration assumed office in 2023. He said funding was subsequently increased to ₦23.4 billion in 2024 and ₦74.02 billion in 2025, while more than ₦100 billion has been allocated to agriculture and food security in the 2026 budget.
According to him, the latest allocation represents about 11.65 per cent of the state’s total expenditure, exceeding the 10 per cent target set under the Malabo Declaration for public investment in agriculture.
Governor Sani attributed the progress recorded in the sector to the support of the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, adding that the state has invested across the entire agricultural value chain.
He said the administration is expanding access to improved seeds, mechanisation, irrigation, extension services, agricultural finance, insurance and market opportunities to boost productivity and farmers’ incomes.
The governor further disclosed that the state has strengthened livestock development through investments in veterinary services, disease surveillance, vaccination programmes, dairy and poultry production, feed improvement and pastoral infrastructure.
He added that more than 100,000 farmers have been enrolled in agricultural insurance schemes to protect them against losses arising from floods, drought, pests and other natural hazards.
Governor Sani also said the government has improved rural road infrastructure to connect farming communities with aggregation centres, processing facilities and urban markets, reducing post-harvest losses and improving market access.
He noted that Kaduna State is implementing the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone in partnership with the Federal Government and the African Development Bank to promote value addition, while plans are underway to establish the Africa Quality Assurance Centre to ensure agricultural products from the state meet international standards and compete effectively in regional and global markets.
Discover more from NAIRAVOICE.COM.NG
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
