The Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has ordered the distribution of over 500 trucks of fertiliserto be distributed free to verified smallholder farmers under the Agricultural Input Supply Support in the state.

The Commissioner of Agriculture, Alhaji Murtala Dabo, who disclosed this at the quarterly ministerial press briefing, said the gesture is the largest agricultural input support programme in the state’s history, which is meant to boost the productivity of farmers and also guarantee food security.

‘’Under the ‘TallafinNoma (A KomaGona)’ initiative, 69,000 smallholder farmers were supported with quality maize seeds and agrochemicals during the rain-fed season.

‘’In addition, Kaduna State Government distributed free agricultural implements and inputs to cooperatives, comprising a 18 horse-power Tiller, 18 horse power 3 inch solar-powered irrigation pumping machine, a 13 horse-power 2 inch solar-powered water irrigation machine, and a gasoline powered water irrigation pumps to each cooperative group to boost year-round farming.

‘’Each cooperative was also given 30 bags of Urea and NPK fertilisers, one motorised knapsack sprayer, one carton of herbicide and another carton of pesticide,’’ he said.

Elaborating further onSani’s government strides in agricultural sector, the Commissioner said, “under macro-mechanisation, we have procured a fleet of tractors to enhance mechanisation. A new public-private partnership framework has been developed to operationalise these tractors via revived mechanisation hubs.’’

According to him, the scheme will be purely private sector-driven, but the tractors will be hired to farmers at highly subsidised rates so that the model will be sustainable.

Besides, Dabo noted that revenue accruing from these private operators will be used to acquire more tractors,’’ pointing out that “there will be a penetration of this mechanisation to all nooks and crannies of the state over the years.’’

He further stressed that Kaduna State is also developing the Agricultural Quality Assurance Centre (AQAC) with the support of the Afrexim Bank, which is the first of its kind in Northern Nigeria.

The commissioner remarked that the facility will complement the Special Agricultural Processing Zone, adding that it will ensure ‘’ that our agricultural produce meets both domestic and international quality standards.’’Murtala also added that the AQAC will enhance Kaduna’s competitiveness in the global market, particularly under the AfCFTA framework.

‘’This means that our farmers and agro-industries will not only produce more but will produce better—meeting the highest standards required for export and premium markets,’’ he added.

Meanwhile, on the issue of funding, the Commissioner said that Governor Sani”has increased funding, introduced new agricultural schemes and has given more inputs to farmers than any government in the history of the state.”

Said he: “The Governor has not only increased the budgetary allocation to the sector but has distributed free fertilisers and farm implements to farmers and their cooperatives in the last two years,” stressing that the amount earmarked for agriculture in the 2025 budget is N74.2b, pointed out that that amount represents 9.36 per cent of the total budget.