by Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
Kaduna State Government has unveiled plans to distribute 400 trucks of free fertilizers to 100,000 smallholder farmers as part of a major intervention to boost food security, reduce agricultural costs, and support rural livelihoods.
Commissioner Ministry for Agriculture, Murtala Dabo, announced the initiative during a press briefing, following a multi-stakeholder committee meeting ahead of the rollout.
According to him, Kaduna is currently the only state in Nigeria offering fertilizers free-of-charge to smallholder farmers. “Our target is to directly reach 100,000 vulnerable farmers, ensuring that even the poorest are not left behind,” he said.
“The programme will kick off with 300 trucks and aims to scale-up to reach as many as 400,000 farmers across the state’s 23 local government areas.
“To guarantee transparency and fairness, a broad-based committee – including religious leaders, civil society organisations, labour unions, local officials, and security agencies – has been set up to oversee the distribution process.
“Accordingly, committees will be replicated at the grassroots level to verify fertilizer beneficiaries. This is in addition to 20,000 hectares of farmlands government is clearing, especially in communities previously affected by insecurity or lacking access to arable land.
“Basic irrigation infrastructure and rainwater harvesting systems will also be introduced to support year-round farming.
“While smallholder farmers will receive fertilizer for free, commercial farmers will benefit from a 60 percent subsidy, paying only N30,000 per bag.
“This strategy is to reduce production costs for our commercial farmers and encourage large-scale cultivation without compromising our support for vulnerable farmers,” he stated.
Highlighting Kaduna’s strong commitment to agriculture, the Commissioner noted that the sector received over N100 billion in the 2025 budget, representing 14 percent of the total – well above the 10 percent Maputo Declaration benchmark.
He also spoke of the progress made in reviving abandoned farmlands across volatile areas like Birnin-Gwari, Giwa and parts of Chikun, thanks to improved peace and security.
“A few months ago, the Vice President commissioned our Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ), which will ensure that everything our farmers produce is processed and given market value, right here in Kaduna,” he said.
Dabo further disclosed that, all 100,000 beneficiaries of the fertilizer scheme will also be covered by an Agricultural Insurance policy to cushion the effects of crop failure, drought or pest outbreaks.
“This is a lesson we’ve learned from the ginger blight crisis. We cannot allow our smallholder farmers to suffer total loss again. Insurance is now a key part of our strategy,” he added.
The Commissioner reaffirmed Governor Uba Sani’s commitment to inclusive, people-centred governance and said the agricultural interventions were proof that “Kaduna is on course to becoming the nation’s food basket.”