Jigawa Agricultural Transformation is An Excellent Model —Shettima

News in brief:

-Vice President Kashim Shettima describes Jigawa’s agricultural transformation as Nigeria’s most advanced model for sustainable food security and economic growth.

-Governor Namadi’s reforms, land expansion, irrigation upgrades, mechanisation, and youth-focused initiatives continue to attract federal and donor support.

Nigeria’s Vice President, His Excellency Senator Kashim Shettima, has described Jigawa State’s agricultural transformation as one of the most advanced and impactful policy models in the country. His remarks add to the increasing national and global attention drawn by the Jigawa Agricultural Transformation Policy over the past two years.

Speaking during his visit to the state, where he joined celebrations marking the 45th anniversary of the Emir of Gumel, Dr Ahmad Muhammad Sani, Shettima praised the state’s agricultural progress and linked its improving security situation to the ongoing reforms.

The Vice President emphasised that the combined efforts of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and the Jigawa State Government reflect a shared commitment to national food security. He noted that Hon. Abubakar Kyari, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, has frequently visited Jigawa due to the exceptional progress recorded under Governor Malam Umar Namadi.

According to Shettima, Jigawa’s success stems from strong political will, consistent implementation, and farmers’ impressive enthusiasm toward the state’s 12-point agricultural agenda. These efforts have also drawn increasing support from donor organisations offering technical and financial assistance to strengthen local capacity.

Despite challenges associated with climate change, such as desertification, land degradation, gully erosion, and flooding, Jigawa continues to demonstrate resilience through practical, realistic policies that push its agricultural agenda forward.

A State Setting National Benchmarks

Shettima stated that while all 36 governors are making commendable efforts toward food security, Jigawa stands out as the most promising model for sustainable food production, job creation, and poverty reduction. He linked improved security in the state to its agricultural policies, which actively engage youth, strengthen farmer–herder relations, and expand livelihood opportunities.

Jigawa remains one of Nigeria’s leading producers of wheat, rice, sesame, hibiscus, and other crops. The Vice President described the state’s leap in wheat production from 30,000 hectares to over 110,000 hectares in just two years, with a five-year target of 500,000 hectares, as inspiring and nationally significant.

“Today, Jigawa State stands tall as a role model in agricultural transformation. We will continue collaborating with the state government on this journey, and we hope others will emulate them,” Shettima said.

Transformative Reforms Under Governor Namadi

Since taking office, Governor Namadi has positioned agriculture as the backbone of Jigawa’s economic plan. His administration adopted a multi-sectoral approach that includes land expansion, improved irrigation, mechanisation, youth engagement, and livestock development.

Thousands of hectares of virgin land have been cleared and allocated to farmers, while irrigation facilities have been rehabilitated and expanded. Areas like Lallashi in Maigatari Local Government, previously unlikely locations for irrigation, now host functioning irrigation fields.

The state has also rolled out wide-ranging grants and interventions, including the popular 'Rice Millionaires' initiative, which has attracted graduates and young entrepreneurs into commercial farming. Additionally, Jigawa heavily subsidises modern farm technology, deploys affordable tools, and has expanded its agricultural extension workforce from 300 to 2,000 officers.

Livestock production has also received significant investment through free veterinary care, the hiring of 300 Animal Health Workers, disease surveillance initiatives, and partnerships with Indian companies on animal feed production. The state has also gazetted and upgraded cattle routes and grazing reserves to reduce conflict.

Mechanisation as a Game-Changer

A major highlight of Governor Namadi’s agenda is the establishment of the Jigawa Agricultural Mechanisation Agency, which oversees 60 Mechanisation Service Centres, two in each of the state’s 30 constituencies. These centres train technicians to support the state’s growing mechanisation needs.

Thirty agricultural engineering graduates were trained in China to manage the workshops and lead the assembly of thousands of farm implements, including tractors, combine harvesters, planters, and sprayers ordered by the state government.

As Jigawa prepares to distribute these machines to farmers across the state, expectations are high that the equipment rollout will revolutionise agricultural production and reinforce Jigawa’s position as Nigeria’s model for sustainable agricultural development.