By Hassana Yakubu
Gov. Uba Sani of Kaduna State has inaugurated the distribution of 500 trucks of free fertiliser and tractors to 150,000 smallholder farmers.
The distribution, launched on Saturday, covers farmers across the state’s 23 local government areas and marks the third consecutive year of the free fertiliser programme.
Sani said the initiative remained one of the largest fertiliser support programmes by any sub-national government, aimed at boosting food production and tackling food insecurity.
He recalled that the state distributed over 500 trucks of fertiliser in 2024 and 400 trucks in 2025 to support smallholder farmers.
The governor said his administration rejected suggestions to sell the fertiliser at subsidised rates, insisting many smallholder farmers could still not afford the commodity.
He added that free distribution would also prevent middlemen and large-scale farmers from buying and reselling the fertiliser at inflated prices.
According to him, agriculture contributes about 43 per cent to Kaduna’s Gross Domestic Product and provides employment for between 60 and 80 per cent of the workforce.
Sani attributed improved farming activities to the restoration of peace, saying about 5,000 hectares of farmland had been reclaimed with residents’ cooperation and Federal Government support.
He described agriculture as the backbone of the state’s economy, noting Kaduna remained a leading producer of maize, tomatoes and ginger in Nigeria.
The governor said agriculture was central to food security, industrial growth, employment generation, rural development and social stability.
Sani said his administration increased the agriculture budget from N1.48 billion in 2023 to N23.40 billion in 2024 and N74.02 billion in 2025.
He added that over N100 billion was allocated to agriculture and food security in the 2026 budget, representing about 11.65 per cent of total state expenditure.
According to him, the allocation exceeds the 10 per cent benchmark of the Malabo Declaration on agricultural financing.
Sani attributed the achievements to strong support from President Bola Tinubu and the Federal Government, expressing appreciation for their continued partnership.
He said the state had invested across the agricultural value chain, including improved seeds, mechanisation, irrigation, extension services and access to finance.
The governor added that more than 100,000 farmers had been enrolled in agricultural insurance against floods, droughts, pests and other production risks.
He said investments had also been made in livestock development, rural roads and the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone to improve productivity and value addition.
Sani said the state was establishing the Africa Quality Assurance Centre to enable Kaduna’s agricultural produce to meet international standards and access regional and global markets.
