Gov. Uba Sani of Kaduna State says agriculture remains central to President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which focuses on transforming Nigeria’s economy and ensuring inclusive prosperity.
The Governor stated this while on Friday declaring open the 47th meeting of the National Council on Agriculture and Food Security in Kaduna at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Conference Centre, Kaduna.
Sani said the Federal Government’s policies on mechanisation, value-chain integration, input accessibility, and rural infrastructure were rekindling optimism and laying a firm foundation for economic growth.
He added that Kaduna State was fully aligned with the national vision of food security, as his administration viewed agriculture as the cornerstone of rural transformation and inclusive development.
“We have pursued deliberate, evidence-based interventions that empower both smallholder and large-scale farmers, expand access to inputs and markets, and promote agribusiness development,” he said.
Describing Kaduna as Nigeria’s foremost agricultural hub, the governor said the state was blessed with vast arable land, vibrant farmers, and strong market systems.
Sani said, “We are the number one producer of ginger in Nigeria, the leading producer of maize and grapes, and the second-largest producer of soybeans,” he said.
“Agriculture contributes nearly 43 percent of Kaduna’s GDP and employs about 60 percent of our workforce.
“These figures represent not just economic strength, but the heartbeat of our people’s resilience and contribution to national growth.”
Sani said that the state had backed this strength with bold policy actions and massive investments over the past two and a half years.
He disclosed that Kaduna’s agricultural budget had risen from ₦1.48 billion in 2023 to ₦74.02 billion in 2025, a 4,871 percent increase, representing over 14 percent of the total state budget,surpassing the Malabo Declaration target.
Sani said, “We have implemented the largest fertilizer distribution in the state’s history, delivering over 900 trucks to smallholder farmers across the 23 local government areas.
“Through both Wet and Dry Season Agricultural Empowerment Programmes, we have distributed quality seeds, irrigation equipment, and mechanization tools to thousands of farmers, while supporting livestock production through feed, vaccines, and fodder infrastructure.”
The governor said his administration also subsidised fertiliser for commercial farmers to reduce production costs, stimulate job creation, and ensure market price stability.
He revealed plans to enroll over 100,000 smallholder farmers into a crop risk insurance scheme to protect them from losses arising from pests, diseases, and climate-related disasters.
“This initiative will safeguard farmers’ investments and strengthen resilience in the agricultural sector,” he stated.
In his remarks, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, described agriculture as Nigeria’s largest employer of labour and a major contributor to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
“Agriculture is the measure of our nation’s resilience and the foundation of our collective renewal.
“It is the work of our hands, a driver of industry, a pillar of national stability, and the promise of our future,”he said.
Quoting Tinubu, the minister said that farmers must transition from using “hoes and cutlasses to tractors and harvesters,” emphasising that food sufficiency was the first currency of national stability.
Kyari said the administration’s agricultural vision was guided by the Nigeria Vision 2050, the National Development Plan (2021–2025), and the National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Policy, among other frameworks.
“Together, these ensure that every program,from input delivery to mechanisation and financing ,contributes directly to Nigeria’s long-term vision of economic diversification, food security, and shared prosperity,” he said.
The minister explained that the theme of this year’s council meeting, “Food Sovereignty and Food Security: An Era of Renewed Hope,” aligned with the Tinubu administration’s goals.
“Food sovereignty speaks to our control over what we grow, how we grow it, and how we consume it, while food security ensures that every household has access to safe, affordable, and nutritious food,” Kyari added.
