Kaduna Governor Flags Off Distribution of 500 Trucks of Free Fertilizer to 150,000 Farmers

Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani has launched a significant agricultural support program, distributing 500 trucks of free fertilizer and deploying tractors to aid 150,000 smallholder farmers across the state. This initiative marks the third consecutive year of such interventions, building on previous efforts to bolster the agricultural sector.

The governor emphasized that the program is designed to directly support farmers by mitigating the impact of escalating production costs. He revealed that he rejected advice to sell the fertilizer at subsidized rates, explaining that even a subsidized price of 20,000 naira per bag would be unaffordable for many smallholder farmers. Furthermore, he cautioned that subsidized sales could allow large-scale farmers to buy up the commodity and resell it at inflated prices, undermining the program's core objective.

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For example, if we buy the commodity at ₦56,000 per bag, we should sell it to farmers at ₦20,000. But ₦20,000 is still beyond the reach of most smallholder farmers. Besides, large-scale farmers could buy up the commodity and resell it at exorbitant prices, defeating the purpose of the subsidy.

Governor Sani highlighted agriculture's critical role in Kaduna's economy, describing it as the "backbone" that contributes approximately 43 percent to the state's GDP and employs between 60 and 80 percent of the active workforce. He attributed the resurgence in farming activities to an improved security situation, which has enabled thousands of farmers to return to their lands. The state has reclaimed 5,000 hectares previously affected by insecurity, positioning Kaduna as a major agricultural hub due to its extensive arable land and favorable agro-ecological conditions. The governor also noted Kaduna's leading position in Nigeria for producing maize, tomatoes, and ginger.

"Agriculture is far more than an economic sector. It is the meeting point of food security, industrial development, job creation, rural transformation and social stability," Sani stated. He further detailed his administration's commitment to the sector, noting a substantial increase in budgetary allocations since 2023. The agricultural budget rose from 1.48 billion naira (0.4 percent of the state budget) before his tenure to 23.4 billion naira in 2024, 74.02 billion naira in 2025, and is projected to exceed 100 billion naira in the 2026 budget, representing about 11.65 percent of total state expenditure.

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Agriculture is far more than an economic sector. It is the meeting point of food security, industrial development, job creation, rural transformation and social stability.