Gladness Gideon
In a bold move to revitalize its agricultural sector, the Kaduna State Government has allocated N74.2 billion to agriculture in its 2025 budget—a dramatic increase that signals renewed commitment to food security, rural development, and economic diversification.
Speaking during the quarterly ministerial press briefing on Thursday, Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Murtala Dabo, announced that the sector now accounts for 9.36% of the state’s total budget, a 5,000% surge from the N1.48 billion allotted in 2023 by the previous administration.
“This level of investment reflects the administration’s determination to reposition agriculture as the engine of economic growth in Kaduna,” Dabo said. “We are focused on ensuring farmers receive the tools, inputs, and support they need to thrive.”
A striking 97.7% of the sector’s allocation is dedicated to capital expenditure, leaving just 2.3% for recurrent spending. This, Dabo noted, demonstrates a clear shift toward sustainable, infrastructure-driven agricultural development.
Among the flagship initiatives is the Agricultural Input Supply Support programme, under which more than 500 trucks of fertilizer have been distributed free of charge to verified smallholder farmers—marking the largest such intervention in Kaduna’s history.
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Additionally, during the recent rainy season, over 69,000 farmers benefited from improved maize seeds and agrochemicals under the ‘Tallafin Noma (A Koma Gona)’ scheme, aimed at enhancing yields and increasing food production.
The commissioner also unveiled a new public-private partnership model for agricultural mechanisation. Through this arrangement, mechanisation hubs will be reactivated and equipped with tractors and solar-powered irrigation machines. These assets, though managed by private operators, will be made available to farmers at highly subsidised rates.
“The revenue generated from this scheme will be reinvested to acquire more tractors,” Dabo explained. “This approach guarantees sustainability and wider coverage over time.”
In a further step toward market competitiveness, Kaduna State is also developing the Agricultural Quality Assurance Centre (AQAC) in collaboration with Afrexim Bank. Once operational, the centre will certify produce to meet both local and international standards, giving Kaduna farmers access to premium markets, particularly under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework.
“This facility will enhance the quality and marketability of our agricultural output,” Dabo stated. “Our farmers won’t just produce more—they’ll produce better.”
The sweeping reforms come at a time when food inflation and rural poverty remain national concerns. With these measures, the Kaduna State Government positions itself as a leading force in driving agricultural transformation in Nigeria.