Kaduna moves to protect farmers against climate-related losses

In a bid to combat rising food insecurity and strengthen resilience in the agriculture sector, the Kaduna state government has flagged off the distribution of over 300 truckloads of fertiliser to 100,000 farmers, alongside a crop insurance scheme to protect smallholders against climate-related losses.

The initiative comes at a time when Nigerian farmers are facing growing challenges such as high input costs, erratic rainfall, pest outbreaks, and inflation, all of which have contributed to declining yields and soaring food prices across the country.

Governor Uba Sani inaugurated a multi-stakeholder committee to oversee the fertiliser distribution and monitor the rollout of the intervention.

The committee, according to a statement by Murtala Dabo, commissioner of agriculture, includes representatives from civil society organisations, traditional and religious institutions, private sector actors, labour unions, security agencies, and anti-corruption bodies.

Dabo said the distribution will be monitored at both state and local government levels to ensure credibility, transparency, and community participation.

“This holistic approach reflects Kaduna State’s unwavering commitment to inclusive agricultural transformation, rural development, and sustainable food systems,” the commissioner said.

The intervention is split into two categories: smallholder farmers will each receive two bags of fertiliser free of charge, while commercial farmers will access fertiliser at a 40 percent subsidised rate through a targeted input programme.

According to Dabo, the move is intended to ease the financial burden on farmers, stimulate agribusiness expansion, and improve competitiveness in the market by lowering production costs.

“This intervention is designed to encourage agribusiness expansion, support job creation efforts in the agricultural value chain, and strengthen price competitiveness in the commodity market through reduced input costs,” he said.

Beyond fertiliser distribution, the state government is also enrolling the 100,000 smallholder beneficiaries into a crop risk insurance scheme.

The scheme aims to shield farmers from crop failure linked to extreme weather events, pest infestations, and diseases — growing threats amid worsening climate conditions in northern Nigeria.

The federal government had earlier raised the alarm over worsening food insecurity in the country, disclosing that 161 million Nigerians are currently food insecure.

With Kaduna being a major producer of maize, rice, tomatoes, and other staples, the government hopes the latest intervention will help stabilise food production and safeguard livelihoods in rural communities.