Kaduna boosts agric budget, allocates N74.2bn to sector

In a bold policy shift aimed at revitalizing agriculture, the Kaduna State Government has allocated ₦74.2 billion—9.36% of its 2025 budget—to the agricultural sector, marking a 5,000% increase from the previous allocation in 2023. This announcement was made by Alhaji Murtala Dabo, Commissioner of Agriculture, during a quarterly ministerial press briefing.

This substantial budget boost prioritizes capital investment (97.7%) over recurrent spending (2.3%) and will fund programs including the distribution of over 500 trucks of fertilizer to smallholder farmers and inputs for 69,000 maize farmers under the Tallafin Noma (A Koma Gona) initiative. The administration has also launched a mechanization program using tractors and solar irrigation pumps, distributed to cooperatives and managed through private sector-led hubs at subsidized rates.

Additionally, Kaduna State is establishing an Agricultural Quality Assurance Centre (AQAC) with support from Afrexim Bank, to ensure that local produce meets global standards, positioning the state for increased exports under the AfCFTA framework.
Source- Punch

Expert Review for Agri-Food Stakeholders
Kaduna State’s 2025 agricultural budget signals a paradigm shift in subnational agri-policy planning. With a ₦74.2 billion allocation—largely committed to capital investments—the administration has laid a firm foundation for agricultural modernization, productivity scaling, and value chain competitiveness.

Here are five key implications for agri-food stakeholders:

1. Massive Upscaling of Input Access:
   The distribution of 500+ fertilizer trucks and agrochemicals, plus support for 69,000 smallholder maize farmers, marks Kaduna’s largest input subsidy programme to date. This is a direct lifeline for farmers battling rising input costs, and will significantly boost yield performance if followed up with extension services and climate-smart practices.

2. Private-Sector-Driven Mechanization:
   The state’s innovative mechanisation hubs, operated by private entities but subsidised for farmers, can unlock cost-efficient access to tractors. If effectively managed, this can drastically improve land preparation efficiency and reduce drudgery for rural farmers, especially youth and women.

3. Focus on Export-Grade Standards (AQAC):
   The establishment of the Agricultural Quality Assurance Centre, backed by Afrexim Bank, is a strategic step towards market access and premium pricing, particularly for Kaduna’s exportable commodities under the AfCFTA. This will help formalize value chains and open regional trade doors for processors and aggregators.

4. Budget Quality Over Quantity:
   The capital-heavy budget reflects long-term development intent, not just political spending. However, stakeholders must ensure that execution remains transparent, participatory, and timely, with performance tracking mechanisms in place.

5. Replication Potential for Other States:
   Kaduna has provided a replicable model for states looking to transform agriculture beyond rhetoric. Its integrated approach—budgeting, input delivery, mechanization, PPP frameworks, and export-readiness—should attract development partners, investors, and agritech firms seeking scalable interventions.

Strategic Recommendation:
Stakeholders should engage Kaduna’s Ministry of Agriculture to align ongoing and future interventions with the state’s priorities. Agri-tech startups, ag-financiers, and processors should explore entry points to support mechanization access, input digitization, and post-harvest aggregation services that will ride on the back of this capital investment wave.