In its bid to boost food security in Kaduna State, Governor Uba Sani, said his administration has prioritised agriculture, with over N10b allocated to the sector in the 2025 budget.

According to him, Kaduna is the only state in Nigeria that has met the Malabo Declaration targets on agricultural investment, reaffirming his administration’s determination to strengthen agricultural productivity and empower smallholder farmers across the state, as part of efforts to achieve food security and inclusive economic growth.food security and inclusive economic growth.

Represented by his Chief of Staff, Malam Sani Liman Kila, at the flag-off of the distribution of agricultural inputs to 400 smallholder farmers, Sani described agriculture as “the backbone of Kaduna’s economy and a key driver of prosperity for rural households.”

The event, which held at the Arewa House, Kaduna, was organised by the Kaduna State Government in collaboration with the African Union Development Agency–New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA–NEPAD) Nigeria.

Governor Sani remarked that the partnership reflects his administration’s people-centred approach to governance and aligns with Kaduna’s vision of building a resilient, food-secure, and inclusive economy.

“Smallholder farmers form the backbone of our agricultural system. Supporting them means strengthening our economy, securing our food supply, and uplifting thousands of households,” he stated.

While urging the beneficiaries to use the inputs made available to them responsibly, Governor Sani cautioned them against selling the items, stressing that the programme was designed to lift farmers out of poverty and enhance their livelihoods.

In his speech, the Chief Executive Officer of AUDA–NEPAD Nigeria, Jabir Abdullahi Tsauni, commended the state government for providing counterpart funding that enabled the programme’s expansion to all the 23 local councils.

He disclosed that 345 smallholder farmers have already been trained in good agronomic and climate-smart agricultural practices, including backyard cultivation of tomatoes, sweet pepper, maize, cowpea, and soybeans.

“These inputs are not just farming materials they are instruments of hope and productivity,” Tsauni said. He added that the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which prioritise inclusive and climate-resilient agriculture.

In his remarks, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Murtala Dabo, said the programme demonstrates Kaduna’s determination to make agriculture a profitable enterprise rather than a subsistence activity.

He commended AUDA–NEPAD for its collaboration and assured that the state will remain a dependable partner to development agencies committed to advancing agricultural innovation, rural transformation, and farmer empowerment.