Jigawa expands agriculture programme with mechanisation and agribusiness plans

Jigawa State is expanding investment in agriculture through mechanisation, research, irrigation and entrepreneurship programmes, Governor Umar Namadi has said. Namadi spoke on Friday at the launch of the Nigeria AgriConnect initiative and a CGIAR System Board dinner at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture in Ibadan. He said the measures were part of the state’s 12-Point Agenda for Greater Jigawa.

The governor said Jigawa was a leading producer of rice, wheat and sesame. He added that the state was expanding irrigation and dry-season farming, strengthening extension services and extending mobile veterinary services across all 287 wards. According to Namadi, the state has created an Agricultural Transformation Agency and a Ministry of Livestock Development to improve coordination and accountability.

It has also established 60 mechanisation centres supported by 400 tractors and 60 combine harvesters. The number of agricultural extension agents has risen to nearly 2,000, he said. The administration’s stated aim is to address barriers involving mechanisation, extension, entrepreneurship, research and innovation.

Namadi also announced an agribusiness incubation partnership intended to develop 10,000 entrepreneurs and support at least 500 new small and medium-sized enterprises. He said the programme would connect farmers with technology, finance, processing and markets. The governor said the state’s agricultural research institute was being repositioned to focus on seeds, soil fertility, irrigation, livestock, post-harvest management and agro-processing.

Its partnership with IITA covers improved crop varieties, soil mapping, seed systems, pest management, value chains and youth-led agribusiness. He said the partnership’s success would be judged by improvements in yields, farm incomes, food access, processing and employment.