By Abdullahi Lukman
Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, on Saturday distributed free fertiliser to over 100,000 smallholder farmers and launched a Crop Risk Insurance Scheme to protect them against climate-related losses.
Speaking at the event held at Murtala Square, Kaduna, the governor described the initiatives as part of his administration’s “farmer-first policy,” aimed at boosting food security and rural development.
Each beneficiary received two free bags of fertiliser, as part of the 400 trucks distributed across the state.
Sani emphasized that Kaduna remains the only state providing free fertiliser and critical inputs consistently to smallholder farmers.
He said the initiative is part of a broader, systems-based agricultural transformation plan targeting vulnerable and underserved communities.
The newly introduced Crop Risk Insurance Scheme will cover farmers against losses from pests, diseases, and extreme weather conditions due to climate change.
“This scheme reinforces our commitment to inclusive growth and agricultural resilience,” Sani said.
In addition to the free distribution, the governor unveiled a subsidised fertiliser programme for commercial farmers.
Eligible recipients can access 10 bags at ₦30,000 each—representing a 40% subsidy—meant to cut production costs, boost employment, and stabilise market prices.
Governor Sani credited these agricultural gains to improved security across Kaduna, which has reopened access to previously restricted farmlands.
He also highlighted previous achievements, including the distribution of over 500 trucks of fertiliser in 2023, support for dry-season farming, the ginger recovery programme, and deployment of 200 tractors for mechanised agriculture.
In a major policy shift, Sani revealed that the agriculture budget had been increased from ₦1.48 billion in 2023 to ₦74.02 billion for 2025—representing a 4,871% rise.
Agriculture’s share of the state budget has also grown from 0.4% to 10%.
Urging farmers to use the inputs responsibly, he praised stakeholders for ensuring transparency and accountability in the distribution.
“We are building a Kaduna where agriculture is not just survival, but prosperity,” he concluded.
