Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has flagged off the distribution of 500 trucks of free fertiliser and tractors to 150,000 smallholder farmers across the state’s 23 local government areas, marking the third consecutive year of the initiative.
Speaking during the launch at Murtala Mohammed Square on Saturday, the governor described the programme as one of the largest fertiliser support schemes by any state government in Nigeria.
He said the initiative was designed to cushion the impact of rising production costs and ensure farmers maintain cultivation levels, improve yields and strengthen food security.
According to Sani, although he was advised to sell the fertiliser at subsidised rates, he opted for free distribution because many smallholder farmers could not afford even the subsidised price.
“I was advised to sell the bags of fertiliser at ₦20,000 after purchasing them at ₦56,000 per bag. But ₦20,000 is beyond the reach of most smallholder farmers, and large-scale farmers could buy them and resell at higher prices, defeating the purpose of the subsidy,” he said.
The governor noted that agriculture contributes about 43 per cent to Kaduna State’s Gross Domestic Product and employs between 60 and 80 per cent of the active workforce, making it the backbone of the state’s economy.
He also attributed improved farming activities to the restoration of peace across the state, revealing that about 5,000 hectares of farmland had been reclaimed.
Sani said his administration had significantly increased funding for agriculture, raising the sector’s allocation from ₦1.48 billion in 2023 to ₦23.4 billion in 2024 and ₦74.02 billion in 2025.
He added that more than ₦100 billion has been allocated to agriculture and food security in the 2026 budget, representing about 11.65 per cent of total state expenditure and exceeding the 10 per cent benchmark set under the Malabo Declaration.
The governor said the state had invested across the agricultural value chain, including mechanisation, improved seeds, irrigation, extension services, agricultural insurance, rural roads and livestock development.
According to him, over 100,000 farmers are currently covered under agricultural insurance schemes to protect them against floods, drought, pests and other risks.
Sani also highlighted ongoing projects such as the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone, being developed in partnership with the Federal Government and the African Development Bank, as well as the planned Africa Quality Assurance Centre, which he said would improve the competitiveness of Kaduna’s agricultural products in regional and international markets.
He credited the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu for supporting Kaduna’s agricultural transformation and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to improving food production, creating jobs and strengthening the state’s economy through agriculture.