The Jigawa State Governor, Umar Namadi, has revealed plans to transform the state’s agricultural sector through aggressive mechanisation and irrigation-based farming, with a new goal to increase crop yields up to 10 tons per hectare.
He disclosed this during a courtesy visit by a delegation from Al-Yaseen Agricultural Company of Saudi Arabia at the Government House in Dutse.
The governor reaffirmed the state’s commitment to changing agriculture, Jigawa’s key economic driver.
“Agriculture remains the backbone of our economy, employing between 85 and 90 per cent of our people and contributing 46 per cent to the state’s GDP,” Namadi stated.
He emphasised the availability of land and water resources in the state and expressed confidence in the Saudi firm’s technical expertise in irrigation to help scale up Jigawa’s productivity.
“We have the land; we have all the available resources that are needed for farming in Jigawa State. And with your expertise in irrigation, I am sure if we work together, we can achieve our goals,” he said.
The governor shared progress already made, including the expansion of irrigation infrastructure, the distribution of improved seeds, and agronomic training facilitated through over 1,700 extension workers across the state.
“So far, so good, we are able to improve our yields in many crops, but we still have a long way to go. We have moved from the initial 2.5 tons per hectare to almost 4.5 tons per hectare. And we believe we can make it 8 or 10 tons per hectare,” he explained.
He highlighted the state’s natural advantages and noted the presence of shallow water tables even in desert areas where water is accessible at depths of just 70–80 meters.
He also stated that the government is rehabilitating 10 strategic dams to enhance irrigation and unlock thousands of hectares of land.
“I am sure you have explored the Hadejia valley; there are still over 18,000 hectares of land that have not been tapped,” he added.
In response, the leader of the Saudi delegation, Dr. Shu’aibu Abubakar, commended Jigawa’s proactive efforts in the agriculture sector.
“We have witnessed unprecedented efforts by the Jigawa State Government in promoting technology-driven agriculture, efforts we have not seen replicated in any other state in Nigeria,” he said.
“During our field visits, we observed the remarkable dedication of farmers across the state. We engaged with them directly, and they spoke highly of the government’s support, highlighting how it has enabled them to pursue and achieve their agricultural goals through timely facilitation and comprehensive assistance,” Dr Abubakar noted.
He assured Governor Namadi of Al-Yaseen’s readiness to support the mechanisation drive and contribute to the state’s ambitious agricultural transformation agenda.
