Kaduna State governor, Senator Uba Sani, flagged-off the distribution of 500 trucks of fertilizer, about 15,000 metric tonnes, to small-holder farmers across the 23 local government areas of the State.
Amidst great jubilation at the Murtala Square in the metropolis, where hundreds of the farmers converged, the Governor stated that 240,000 bags of fertiliser would be distributed free to 120,000 small-holder farmers, with each farmer receiving two bags.
The Governor said the initiative was part of the State government’s commitment to revitalising the agricultural sector which immensely contributed to the state’s economy, adding that agriculture contributes 42.81% to the state’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and employs 42% of the entire workforce.
He explained the State’s significant role in the nation’s agricultural landscape, ranking first in ginger production and contributing to maize, soybeans, tomato, sorghum, rice paddy, and cowpea production.
Sani also announced that the state government has allocated N22.54 billion to the agricultural sector in the 2024 Budget, marking a significant increase from previous years, and listed the state government’s achievements in enhancing food security, promoting rural livelihoods, and driving economic growth, including the ‘Tallafin Noma’ initiative, solar-powered irrigation pumps, and the Africa Quality Assurance Centre (AQAC) project.
The Governor urged farmers to use the fertilisers responsibly and efficiently, while expressing optimism that the measures would maximise harvests and strengthen food security in the State and nation.
The State’s Commissioner of Agriculture, Murtala Mohammed Dabo, described the programme as a significant milestone in the State’s agricultural journey and praised the governor for his visionary leadership and support, which had made the achievement possible.
While assuring the farmers that he would work tirelessly to support them and ensure the growth of the agricultural sector in the State, Dabo highlighted the expected outcomes of the programmr, which included a significant boost in crop production, enhanced food security, reduced poverty levels, and empowerment of farmers to maximise their productivity and improve their livelihoods.
