Governor Uba Sani has flagged off the distribution of 500 trucks of free fertilisers and tractors to 150,000 smallholder farmers for the third consecutive year, across the 23 local governments of Kaduna State.
It will be recalled that last August, the Governor had
distributed 400 trucks of fertilizer free of charge to 100,000 smallholder
farmers, with each farmer receiving two bags of the farm input.
Earlier, he had performed the largest-ever fertilizer
distribution in 2024, where over 500 trucks were distributed to farmers,
including other inputs, for dry season farming.
Speaking at the latest ceremony at Murtala Mohammed Square
on Saturday, Governor Uba Sani disclosed that the distribution of free
fertiliser in Kaduna State is ‘’one of the most extensive fertilizer support
programmes undertaken by any subnational government in Nigeria.’’
He argued that the objective of Kaduna State Government is
‘’ to ensure that escalating production costs did not translate into reduced
cultivation, lower yields or greater food insecurity.’’
The Governor disclosed that he was advised to sell the bags
of fertiliser at subsidized prices, adding that ‘’for example, if we buy the
commodity at N56,000 per bag, we should sell to farmers at N20,000.’’
Governor Uba Sani explained that ‘’N20,000 is beyond the
reach of most small holder farmers. And in any case, big time farmers will buy
up the commodity and re-sell at exorbitant prices, thereby negating the essence
of subsidy.’’
‘’Agriculture has become the backbone of Kaduna State’s
economy, contributing about 43% to the state’s GDP and employing over 60% to
80% of the active workforce,’’ he said.
The Governor who commended the prevailing peace in Kaduna
State, said that it has enabled farmers to return to the field, adding that
‘’owing the peoples cooperation and President Bola Tinubu’s support, we have
reclaimed 5,000 hectres of farmlands.’’
He pointed out that Kaduna State is blessed with a vast
landmass and favourable agro-ecological zones, which ensures food security, raw
materials for industries, and employment from agriculture.
The Governor who said that Kaduna State is the leading
producer of maize, tomatoes and ginger, added that ‘’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.’’
‘’It is where the welfare of millions of households
intersects with the growth of our economy. No nation can attain enduring
prosperity if it cannot feed itself, supply its industries with raw materials,
create wealth from the land, and provide its farmers with the opportunity not
merely to survive but to prosper,” he added.
The Governor recalled that ‘’when this administration came
into office in 2023, agriculture received only ₦1.48 billion, representing
about 0.4 per cent of the State budget.’’
‘’ We considered that wholly inconsistent with the strategic
importance of a sector that sustains millions of livelihoods and underpins our
economy. Accordingly, we increased the allocation to ₦23.40 billion in 2024,
and further to ₦74.02 billion in 2025.
‘’In the 2026 Budget, we have gone even further by
committing more than ₦100 billion to agriculture and food security,
representing approximately 11.65 per cent of total State expenditure; by far
exceeding the 10 per cent benchmark of the Malabo Declaration,’’ he added.
According to him, Kaduna State achieved at these feats in
the agricultural sector ‘’owing to the very strong backing and support our
State has been receiving from the Federal Government under the able and
compassionate leadership of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.
We remain exceedingly grateful to Mr. President.’’
He noted that his administration has ‘’invested along the
entire agricultural value chain because we understand that productivity depends
on much more than access to fertilizer alone.’’
‘’ Farmers require improved seeds, mechanisation,
irrigation, extension support, affordable finance, insurance against risk,
efficient transportation networks and access to profitable markets,’’ he
argued.
The Governor said that mechanisation is indispensable to
modern agriculture as ‘’no economy can expect to compete in the twenty-first
century while relying predominantly on production methods that belong to
another era.’’
Governor Uba Sani also pointed out that Kaduna State has
‘’strengthened livestock development through investments in veterinary
services, disease surveillance, vaccination programmes, dairy and poultry
development, feed improvement and pastoral infrastructure.
‘’At the same time, we have expanded agricultural insurance,
enabling more than 100,000 farmers to protect themselves against floods,
droughts, pests and other shocks that too often erase an entire season’s
investment,’’ he added.
The Governor also said that Kaduna State has invested ‘’ in
rural roads, connecting farming communities to aggregation centres, processing
facilities and urban markets, reducing post-harvest losses while increasing
farmers’ incomes.
‘’Recognising that true prosperity lies not only in
production but also in value addition, Kaduna State is implementing the Special
Agro-Industrial Processing Zone in partnership with the Federal Government and
the African Development Bank.
‘’We are equally establishing the Africa Quality Assurance
Centre to ensure that agricultural products from Kaduna meet international
standards and compete successfully within regional and global markets under the
African Continental Free Trade Area,’’ he disclosed.
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