The Kaduna State Government says more than 500,000 hectares of farmland previously abandoned because of banditry have been recovered, allowing displaced farmers to return to agricultural activities. This progress highlights the importance of Kaduna farmland recovery for the state’s agricultural sector.
According to The Times, Commissioner for Information and Culture Ahmed Maiyaki disclosed the development during the annual retreat of the Kano Correspondents’ Chapel in Kaduna.
Maiyaki attributed the improvement to a combination of security operations, community engagement, early-warning systems and collaboration with traditional and religious leaders, all of which have played a significant role in Kaduna farmland recovery.
Farmers return to abandoned communities
The commissioner said armed groups previously controlled some communities, imposed levies and restricted residents’ activities.
Improved security, he said, has allowed farmers to return to areas that had become inaccessible. As a result, Kaduna farmland recovery efforts are enabling farmers to rebuild their livelihoods.
“Security is the foundation upon which every other development rests,” Maiyaki said. Kaduna farmland recovery remains a top priority for both government and local communities.
He added that Kaduna’s security structure identified 75 potential threats between 2023 and early 2026, with 70 addressed before they developed into larger conflicts.
The government also increased spending on agriculture from N1.4 billion in 2023 to more than N100 billion in 2026, according to the commissioner.
Maiyaki said farmers had received fertiliser and other support while road projects across several local government areas improved access to farms and markets.
The government believes the combination of improved security and agricultural investment will help restore livelihoods in rural communities previously affected by banditry.
