Katsina State Governor and Chairman of the North-West Governors’ Forum, Dikko Radda, has cautioned individuals and groups involved in the distribution of Federal Government-sponsored fertiliser against diverting or selling the farm inputs designated for smallholder farmers across the region.
Radda issued the warning on Saturday at the launch of the Renewed Hope Farm Input Support Programme for the North-West, an initiative implemented through the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF).
The programme is expected to provide 100,800 bags of fertiliser to 25,200 farmers across the seven states of the North-West geopolitical zone as part of efforts to boost agricultural production and strengthen food security.
The governor stressed that the fertiliser was strictly intended for beneficiaries and should be distributed free of charge, warning that any attempt to manipulate the process would attract appropriate sanctions.
According to him, the intervention reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to supporting farmers and improving agricultural output at a critical period of the planting season.
He directed relevant agencies, including the Ministries of Agriculture and Livestock Development, the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), and other stakeholders, to ensure an open and transparent distribution process that guarantees the fertiliser reaches genuine beneficiaries.
Providing details of the allocation, Radda disclosed that Katsina State received 20,180 bags of fertiliser under the first phase of the programme. The allocation, he said, would benefit 5,045 smallholder farmers spread across the state's 34 local government areas.
He expressed confidence that the support would increase crop yields, improve farmers’ earnings and contribute to efforts aimed at achieving national food security.
The governor also highlighted ongoing agricultural interventions by his administration, noting that Katsina had consistently distributed about 400,000 bags of fertiliser annually over the past three years, with this year’s supply already delivered to farmers.
He further pointed to investments in mechanised farming, irrigation projects and youth-focused agricultural training programmes, including the revitalisation of the Songhai Integrated Farm Centre. The state government, he added, has also provided more than 400 tractors and other farming equipment to support agricultural activities.
Radda urged farmers across the region to embrace modern and climate-resilient farming methods, describing agriculture as a viable business capable of generating wealth, creating jobs and stimulating economic growth.
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