Assessment of Farm Input Subsidy Programmes and Their Effects on Smallholder Maize Productivity in Kaduna State, North West Nigeria

Farm input subsidy programmes have been deployed by Nigerian state governments as a strategy to improve smallholder crop productivity and food security. Despite substantial public investment in these initiatives, evidence on their actual impact at the farm level remains fragmented, particularly in the North West geopolitical zone. This study assessed the effects of farm input subsidy programmes on smallholder maize productivity in Kaduna State. A multistage sampling technique was used to select 120 smallholder farmers from four local government areas. Primary data were collected using structured questionnaires covering subsidy access, input quantities received, and maize output over two farming seasons. Descriptive statistics and a simple regression model were employed to analyse the relationship between subsidy utilisation and productivity. Results indicated that approximately 68 percent of sampled farmers accessed subsidised inputs, though leakages and targeting inefficiencies were widely reported. Farmers who fully utilised subsidised fertilisers recorded maize yields approximately 34 percent higher than non-beneficiaries. However, untimely input distribution remained a critical constraint, undermining the full potential of the programme. The study recommends strengthening distribution logistics, improving beneficiary targeting through biometric registration, and complementing input subsidies with extension advisory services. These findings contribute to the evidence base informing agricultural policy reform in Kaduna State and comparable semi-arid farming environments across Nigeria. Keywords: input subsidy, maize productivity, smallholder farmers, Kaduna State, extension services.