Breaking: Kaduna’s N74bn Agric Package Will make Us Nigeria’s Food Capital –Dabo
By Nasir Dambatta
Kaduna State Government has rolled out a bold and unprecedented ₦74 billion agricultural transformation agenda, positioning the state as a national pacesetter in food security, rural prosperity, and agribusiness growth.
Addressing journalists at the quarterly ministerial briefing on Tuesday at Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Murtala Dabo, unveiled sweeping reforms and record investments that are reshaping the state’s agricultural sector under the leadership of Governor Uba Sani.
Dabo disclosed that over 500 trucks of fertilizer were distributed to verified smallholder farmers in what he described as the largest input support programme in the state’s history. Additionally, 69,000 farmers received improved maize seeds and agrochemicals under the Tallafin Noma (A Koma Gona) initiative, while more than 100,000 bags of fertilizer were distributed free for dry season farming.
The Commissioner also announced the procurement of 500 power tillers, 10,000 solar-powered water pumps, and a fleet of tractors to boost mechanization. Through a public-private partnership, these tractors will be deployed via revitalized mechanization hubs across the state. Irrigation infrastructure is undergoing a revival, with ₦200 million earmarked for key rehabilitation projects and Kaduna expressing interest in the World Bank’s $500 million SPIN initiative.
In a major boost to agro-processing, Dabo revealed the flag-off of Nigeria’s first Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) in Kaduna. A $122 million deal with StarAgri West Africa will refurbish existing storage facilities and add new capacity for over 3 million metric tonnes—generating 2,500 jobs and supporting over one million farmers.
The state also attracted the Africa Quality Assurance Centre (AQAC)—the first of its kind in Northern Nigeria—backed by AFREXIMBANK, to strengthen Kaduna’s agricultural export competitiveness.
Dabo said 16 strategic rural roads were rehabilitated under the RAAMP project to ease farm-to-market transport, while the new Kaduna Agricultural Intelligence Unit will offer real-time monitoring of agricultural projects and data-driven planning.
He further highlighted the success of the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (L-PRES) project, which has trained nearly 3,000 farmers, vaccinated over 299,000 animals, and delivered equipment, water infrastructure, and improved abattoirs across the state.
Most notably, Kaduna’s 2025 agricultural budget stands at ₦74.02 billion—9.36% of the total state budget and over 12% when cross-ministerial contributions are considered. This makes Kaduna the only subnational entity in Nigeria to exceed the African Union’s 10% Maputo Declaration benchmark, representing a 5,000% increase from the ₦1.48 billion allocated in 2023.
Commissioner Dabo concluded by praising Governor Uba Sani’s unwavering commitment to inclusive growth, economic diversification, and agricultural innovation, adding that Kaduna State is firmly on track to becoming the agricultural capital of Nigeria.
