Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani says the state’s proposed 2026 budget will once again allocate more than 10 per cent of total spending to agriculture, surpassing the Malabo Declaration benchmark and reaffirming agriculture as the foundation of the state’s development agenda.
The governor made this known during a meeting with the leadership of Saro Agro Sciences, which is set to finalise a $20 million investment in large-scale commercial seed production in Kaduna.
The project, backed by an MoU covering 2,000 hectares for premium maize and soybean seed cultivation, marks a major milestone in the state’s push to expand agribusiness and strengthen food security.
The Malabo Declaration benchmark refers to a commitment made by African Union (AU) Heads of State in 2014 in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, to strengthen agricultural growth and food security across Africa. It also entails allocating at least 10 per cent of annual public expenditure to agriculture.
According to Governor Sani, the investment goes beyond capital inflow, signalling a shift toward a more resilient, competitive, and technology-driven agricultural economy. He said the initiative will give farmers wider access to high-quality, affordable inputs, improve yields, enhance productivity, and boost rural incomes.
He noted that Saro Agro Sciences’ Group CEO, Rasheed Sarumi, affirmed that the investment aligns with Kaduna’s broader agricultural vision. Sarumi also commended the state’s conducive environment for agribusiness, pointing to reforms in transparency, security, and infrastructure as key factors enabling long-term investment.
Governor Sani further highlighted Kaduna’s pioneering status as the first sub-national government in Nigeria to establish both a Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) and an African Quality Assurance Centre (AQAC). These institutions, he said, will drive modern agribusiness, stimulate exports, and unlock new value chains across Northern Nigeria and the Sahel.
He reaffirmed that agriculture remains central to Kaduna State’s long-term growth strategy, positioning the sector as a catalyst for inclusive and sustainable development.
