Kaduna, AUDA-NEPAD to Invest ₦10 Billion in Agriculture

News in Brief:

-Kaduna State and an AU Development Programme have launched an initiative to empower 400 farmers with inputs and climate-smart agriculture training.

-With ₦10 billion allocated to agriculture in 2025, the initiative aims to boost food security and rural livelihoods across Kaduna’s 23 local government areas.

The Kaduna State Government, in partnership with the African Union Development Agency, New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD) Nigeria, has launched an empowerment initiative targeting 400 smallholder farmers across the state. The project aims to boost agricultural productivity, promote climate-smart practices, and enhance rural livelihoods.

Strengthening Kaduna’s Food System

Speaking at the launch event held at the Arewa House, Governor Uba Sani reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to supporting smallholder farmers, the backbone of Kaduna’s agricultural system. He noted that empowering these farmers is central to improving food production, job creation, and household income across rural communities.

“Supporting smallholder farmers means strengthening our economy, securing our food supply, and uplifting thousands of households,” the Governor said, adding that agriculture remains a top priority in the state’s 2025 budget with over ₦10 billion allocated to the sector.

Governor Sani also highlighted that Kaduna is the only Nigerian state that has met the targets set under the Malabo Declaration, a continental framework encouraging increased agricultural investment among African countries.

Expanding Access to Climate-Smart Agriculture

Hon. Jabir Abdullahi Tsauni, Chief Executive Officer of AUDA-NEPAD Nigeria, commended the Kaduna State Government for providing counterpart funding that enabled the programme’s expansion to all 23 local government areas.

According to him, 345 farmers have already been trained in good agronomic and climate-smart agricultural practices, including backyard farming for tomatoes, sweet peppers, maize, cowpeas, and soybeans.

“These inputs are not just farming materials; they are instruments of hope and productivity,” he said.

The initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the African Union’s Agenda 2063, both of which prioritise inclusive, climate-resilient agriculture as a pathway to sustainable prosperity.

A Model for Agricultural Transformation

In his closing remarks, Abdulhaleem Ishaq Ringim, AUDA-NEPAD Kaduna State Coordinator, appreciated the state government and the Ministry of Agriculture for their continuous support. He pledged that AUDA-NEPAD Kaduna would ensure the programme’s success and proper documentation as a national model for climate-smart agriculture.

This collaboration between Kaduna State and AUDA-NEPAD is expected to improve smallholder farmers’ productivity, enhance food security, and contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Nigeria.