Kaduna Gives 150,000 Farmers Free Fertilizer for 3rd Year

When advisors told Governor Uba Sani to sell fertilizer at a discount, he did the math and said no. Even a heavily subsidized bag would cost more than most small farmers could pay, and wealthier buyers might scoop it up to resell at higher prices anyway.

So this weekend, Kaduna State kicked off its largest free fertilizer program yet. The initiative will put 500 trucks of fertilizer directly into the hands of 150,000 smallholder farmers across all 23 local government areas.

This marks three consecutive years of the program, which started in 2024 with what was then the state's biggest agricultural giveaway. Last year, 100,000 farmers received 400 trucks of fertilizer, with each farmer getting two bags.

The timing couldn't be better. Agriculture now drives 43 percent of Kaduna's economy and employs up to 80 percent of workers in the state. The sector has seen remarkable growth as improved security allows farmers to return to land they'd abandoned during years of conflict.

Governor Sani announced that working with residents and federal support, Kaduna has reclaimed 5,000 hectares of farmland previously lost to insecurity. The state leads Nigeria in producing maize, tomatoes, and ginger, thanks to vast arable land and favorable growing conditions.

The numbers tell a powerful story about changing priorities. Before 2023, agriculture received just 1.48 billion naira, barely 0.4 percent of the state budget. That jumped to 23.4 billion naira in 2024, then 74 billion in 2025, and now exceeds 100 billion naira in the 2026 budget.

That's 11.65 percent of total state spending, surpassing the 10 percent target set by the Malabo Declaration, an African Union commitment to agricultural investment.

The Ripple Effect

The fertilizer giveaway is just one piece of a bigger transformation. Kaduna is investing across the entire farming value chain, from improved seeds and tractors to irrigation systems and rural roads that get produce to market.

More than 100,000 farmers now have agricultural insurance protecting them against floods, droughts, and pest infestations. The state has strengthened livestock development through veterinary services, vaccination programs, and better feed quality.

Kaduna is also building Africa's first Quality Assurance Centre to ensure local products meet international standards. This positions farmers to compete under the African Continental Free Trade Area, opening markets across the continent.

The governor sees agriculture as more than economics. It's the intersection of food security, job creation, industrial development, and social stability, especially in rural communities where most Kaduna residents live and work.

When small farmers succeed, entire communities grow stronger, one harvest at a time.