We are building strong foundations for agricultural transformation in Jigawa – Namadi

Jigawa State Governor, Umar Namadi has said his administration is laying strong and sustainable foundations for the transformation of agriculture into a productive, technology-driven, and commercially viable sector capable of improving livelihoods and creating opportunities for the people.

The governor stated this on Friday during the formal launch of the Nigeria AgriConnect initiative and the CGIAR System Board Dinner held at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, where he reflected on Jigawa State’s agricultural transformation and its growing partnership with IITA.

According to him, the state’s agriculture-first strategy under the 12-Point Agenda for Greater Jigawa is already translating into concrete investments and institutional reforms aimed at increasing productivity, strengthening value chains, and making agriculture more resilient and profitable.

“Jigawa is a leading producer of rice, wheat, and sesame. We are expanding irrigation and dry-season farming, strengthening extension services, and extending mobile veterinary services across all 287 wards,” he said.

He further said that the state had also established the Agricultural Transformation Agency and the Ministry of Livestock Development to provide focused leadership, coordination, and accountability in driving agricultural development.

Namadi said the administration’s investments were deliberately designed to address critical constraints to agricultural productivity, including access to mechanization, extension services, entrepreneurship, research, and innovation.

He disclosed that the state had established 60 mechanization centers, supported by 400 tractors and 60 combine harvesters, while the number of agricultural extension agents had grown to nearly 2,000.

The governor further revealed that Jigawa had entered into a partnership for an agribusiness incubation programme aimed at developing 10,000 entrepreneurs and supporting the emergence of at least 500 new small and medium-sized enterprises.

He said the initiative was part of the administration’s broader effort to move agriculture beyond subsistence production by connecting farmers with technology, finance, processing, markets, and viable business opportunities.

Namadi also explained the transformation of the Jigawa State Agricultural Research Institute, saying the institution was being repositioned to ensure that agricultural research more effectively responds to practical challenges facing farmers and the wider agricultural sector.

He said the research focus covers critical areas including seed systems, soil fertility, irrigation, livestock productivity, post-harvest management, and agro-processing, while targeted research scholarships and specialist training, including MSc and PhD programmes, are strengthening the human capacity required to sustain the transformation.

The governor said the investments were being complemented by the state’s partnership with IITA, which provides a platform for applying science, research, and innovation to the specific agricultural challenges and opportunities in Jigawa.

He stated that the partnership focuses, among other areas, on improved varieties of maize, soybean, and cassava; soil health and mapping; stronger seed systems; pest and disease management; competitive value chains; and youth-led agribusiness.

“What excites us most is the opportunity to connect IITA’s science and innovation with Jigawa’s land, farmers, institutions, and entrepreneurial energy,” the governor said.

He stressed that the ultimate objective was to ensure that research reaches farmers, improved technologies raise productivity, increased production connects to processing and markets, and agriculture generates viable businesses and decent employment for young people.

The governor said Jigawa State remained committed to working with IITA, CGIAR, the Federal Government, development partners, financial institutions, and investors to translate knowledge and innovation into measurable improvements in agricultural productivity and livelihoods.

He noted that the success of the partnership would ultimately be measured by improved yields, healthier soils, reliable seed systems, reduced post-harvest losses, stronger value chains, thriving agribusinesses, higher farm incomes, and improved access to nutritious food.

He invited the leadership of the CGIAR System Board and other partners to visit Jigawa State to see firsthand the transformation taking place in the agricultural sector.

“Together, let us demonstrate what becomes possible when science, government, farmers, young people, and markets work as one,” he said.