Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has announced that his administration is focusing heavily on agriculture as a central part of its development strategy.
During the launch of the Dry Season Agricultural Empowerment Program on Sunday at Murtala Square, he revealed that 10% of the 2025 state budget would be dedicated to agriculture, aligning with the Malabo Declaration set by African leaders in 2014.
Support for Farmers
The Dry Season Agricultural Empowerment Program is designed to ensure year-round food production. As part of the initiative, the state is distributing 100,000 bags of fertilizers (NPK and Urea), enhancing soil fertility and boosting crop yields. To support land preparation, 500 power tillers will be provided to smallholder farmers. Additionally, 2,000 knapsack sprayers for pest control and 10,000 solar-powered water pumps will be supplied to ensure continuous farming during the dry season.
High-Quality Seeds and Infrastructure Investments
Governor Sani emphasized the government’s commitment to improving agricultural productivity by providing high-quality seeds and agrochemicals. He also mentioned ongoing investments in water infrastructure, grazing reserves, and community dialogue programs to address the herder-farmer conflicts, ensuring peaceful coexistence in the region.
Boosting Agricultural Exports and Value-Addition
In an effort to enhance agricultural exports, the state has partnered with AFREXIMBANK to establish the Africa Quality Assurance Centre (AQAC), which will provide vital testing, certification, and inspection services for agricultural products. Furthermore, the government is constructing the Special Agricultural Processing Zone (SAPZ) in collaboration with the African Development Bank (AfDB), aimed at offering better market opportunities for farmers.
Substantial Budget Increase for Agriculture
Commissioner of Agriculture, Alhaji Murtala Dabo, reported a significant increase in budgetary support for agriculture under Governor Uba Sani’s administration. In 2023, the agriculture sector received ₦1.48 billion, a modest 0.4% of the budget. By 2024, this allocation rose to ₦23.40 billion (5.1% of the budget), and for 2025, it reached ₦74.02 billion, representing an extraordinary 4,871% increase over two years.
Economic Growth and Food Security
The Commissioner stressed that agriculture contributes 43% to the state’s GDP, and with these investments, the state is building a self-sustaining, productive economy while addressing food security, job creation, and improved livelihoods.
Federal Support and Peaceful Coexistence
Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, the Minister of State for Agriculture, praised the governor’s commitment to agriculture, encouraging other states to follow suit. He also highlighted the return of peace to Birnin Gwari and other local governments, noting that farmers are now able to return to their fields. The distribution of farming tools and inputs will help increase productivity, ultimately leading to more food for the people of Kaduna.
