Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, inaugurated the distribution of 500 trucks of fertilizer (15,000 metric tonnes) to smallholder farmers across the state’s 23 Local Government Areas on Monday. The program, launched at Murtala Square in Kaduna, will provide 240,000 bags of fertilizer to 120,000 smallholder farmers, with each receiving two bags free of charge.
Governor Sani emphasized that this initiative is part of the government’s effort to revitalize the agricultural sector, which contributes 42.81% to the state’s GDP and employs 42% of its workforce. Kaduna is a major player in Nigeria’s agriculture, ranking first in ginger production and significantly contributing to maize, soybeans, tomato, sorghum, rice paddy, and cowpea production.
The governor announced a N22.54 billion allocation to agriculture in the 2024 budget, reflecting a substantial increase aimed at enhancing food security, rural livelihoods, and economic growth. He urged farmers to use the fertilizers responsibly to maximize harvests and strengthen food security.
State Agriculture Commissioner Murtala Mohammed Dabo praised the governor’s leadership and the efforts of the Ministry of Agriculture and other agencies involved in the initiative. He highlighted the expected outcomes, including increased crop production, enhanced food security, reduced poverty, and the empowerment of farmers to improve their livelihoods and strengthen the agricultural value chain.