President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda places agriculture at the centre of national economic transformation and laying the foundation for inclusive prosperity.
The Federal Government’s policies on mechanization, value-chain integration, input accessibility, and rural infrastructure are also rekindling optimism and laying firm foundation for economic growth.
Governor Uba Sani made this observation while declaring the 47th National Council on Agriculture and Food Security meeting open, at the Umaru Musa Yarádua Conference Centre, Kaduna on Thursday.
Speaking further, the Governor disclosed that Kaduna State is proud to align fully with the national vision of food security because his administration identifies agriculture as the cornerstone of rural transformation and inclusive development.
‘’In line with this, 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 added.
According to Governor Uba Sani, Kaduna State is Nigeria’s foremost agricultural hub as it is richly ‘’blessed with arable land, dynamic farmers, and strong market systems.’’
‘’We are the number one producer of ginger in Nigeria, the leading producer of maize and grapes, and the second-largest producer of soybeans.
‘’Agriculture contributes nearly 43 percent of Kaduna’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employs about 60 percent of our total workforce. These figures represent not just economic strength, but the heartbeat of our people’s resilience, creativity, and contribution to national growth,’’ he stated.
The Governor pointed out that his administration has backed this strength with bold investments and policy actions in the past two years and half years.
‘’We have increased the agricultural sector’s budgetary allocation from
N1.48 billion in 2023 to N74.02 billion in 2025—a 4,871% rise. With supplementary provisions already underway, this will bring agriculture’s share to over 14 percent of the total state budget, surpassing the Malabo Declaration target and reaffirming Kaduna State’s leadership in agricultural investment.
‘’We have implemented the largest fertilizer distribution in the state’s history, delivering over 900 trucks of fertilizer to smallholder farmers across the 23 LGAs over the last 2 years.
‘’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,’’ he added.
The Governor stated that the state government has provided access to fertilizer per farmer at a subsidized rate for commercial farmers, a deliberate intervention to reduce production costs, stimulate job creation, and enhance price stability in the open market.
‘’To further strengthen resilience in the sector, we are enrolling over 100,000 smallholder beneficiaries into a crop risk insurance scheme. This initiative will protect farmers against losses arising from pests, crop diseases, and the increasingly unpredictable effects of climate change—ensuring that their hard work and investments are not lost to circumstances beyond their control,’’ he added.
In his address, Minister of Agriculture, Senator Abubakar Kyari, noted that Agriculture remains the single largest employer of labour in Nigeria, and contributes more than one quarter of our gross domestic product.
He added that it is ‘’the measure of our nation’s resilience and the foundation of our collective renewal. It represents the work of our hands, a driver of industry, a pillar of national stability, and the promise of our future.’’
Quoting President Tinubu, the Minister said that ‘’our farmers must transition from hoes and cutlasses to tractors and harvesters. Food sufficiency is the first currency of national stability.’’
According to him, ‘’this commitment is firmly rooted in the frameworks of the Nigeria Vision 2050, the National Development Plan 2021-2025, the National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Policy and our Ministerial Roadmap and Priority Actions.’’
‘’Together, they ensure that every program we implement; from input, delivery and post-service management, to mechanization and financing, contributes directly to Nigeria’s long-term vision of economic diversification, food security and shared prosperity.
‘’Building on these frameworks and guided by the vision of His Excellency President Bola Tinubu GCFR, food sovereignty has become the driving momentum of our agricultural transformation, ensuring that our food security is built on local capacity, national ownership and inclusive growth,’’ he added.
Senator Kyari pointed out that the theme of this year’s National Council on Agriculture, which is ‘’Food Sovereignty and Food Security, an Era of Renew hope,’’ aligns directly with this vision.
‘’Food sovereignty speaks to our control over what we grow, how we grow it and how we consume it. Food security, in turn, ensures that every household has access to safe, affordable and nutritious food,’’ he maintained.
