Another Milestone In Jigawa’s Agricultural Transformation Agenda

The Jigawa State Government has officially launched another major agricultural support initiative for the 2026 wet season, with Governor Umar Namadi flagging it off at the Dutse Township Stadium.

This programme, dubbed another “jumbo package” for local farmers, represents a significant intervention aimed at boosting food production and supporting smallholder farmers.

It is no longer just rhetoric that agriculture has been declared a lifeline for Jigawa State’s economic plan; what we are now witnessing is the practical translation of that agenda into tangible reality.

Over 70 percent of Jigawa’s population rely on agriculture, from crop to livestock production, as their main source of livelihood. This practice has largely been subsistence-based.

Under the 12-point agenda of Governor Malam Umar Namadi, agricultural transformation was clearly outlined as one of the key priorities, with no limitations on investing all available resources to achieve the goal.

According to Governor Namadi, investing in agriculture means investing in a prosperous and green future for Jigawa. Since assuming office in 2023, he has been working tirelessly to actualize this vision.

As the governor often emphasizes, to build a sustainable and resilient economy, you must fight poverty, improve job creation, and enhance the micro-economy of rural communities. Agriculture is the simplest tool and the sector in which Jigawa State has a comparative advantage for implementing such an agenda.

Various initiatives and policies, implemented in collaboration with the federal government, financial institutions, and national and international partners, have been rolled out in the quest to transform the state’s agriculture.

During one of his visits to the state, the Vice President, His Excellency Kashim Shettima, described the Jigawa State agricultural reform as a “classical and practical agricultural reform worth emulating at all levels.”

Agricultural mechanisation, making modern farming techniques, quality seeds, and other implements available and affordable to farmers, and enhancing agricultural extension services have all been mapped out among the strategic plans designed to empower people to migrate from subsistence to commercial farming.

Promoting agricultural value chains and open access to local and international markets has also been emphasized in building a resilient and sustainable agricultural economy for the state.

In continuation of the pursuit of this agenda, the comprehensive support programme for the 2026 wet season, launched recently, includes fertiliser, seeds, pesticides, and herbicides for over 90,000 farmers at a 30 percent subsidy.

Farmers have the option to pay 50 percent upfront and the remaining 50 percent after harvest. Out of the beneficiaries, 50,000 farmers will receive direct support from the state, while an additional 40,000 will benefit through a partnership with the Bank of Agriculture and StarAgri.

A total of 6,000 solar-powered water pumps were distributed to encourage irrigation farming year-round, helping farmers reduce dependency on rainfall and cut energy costs.

Also, 1,185 motorcycles were given to extension workers to improve the mobility of J-AGRO extension agents, ensuring that farmers in rural communities receive timely technical advice.

The government also allocated and approved N273 million for 20 new greenhouses across 10 LGAs, creating opportunities for youth trained in soilless farming techniques.

The support programme is worth over N7 billion, reflecting a major investment in the state’s agricultural transformation agenda.

This builds on previous interventions that have already supported over 900,000 farmers with inputs, mechanisation, and irrigation.

Speaking at the flag-off of the fertiliser distribution, Governor Namadi said:

“To us, supporting agriculture means building a prosperous future for Jigawa.

That is why our Agricultural Mechanisation Policy has already advanced, with the purchase of over 400 tractors, 75 combine harvesters, and several other implements that will be distributed to 30 technical workshops across our 27 local government areas for easy access by rural farmers.”

“The extension workers we recruited have been trained and provided with vehicles to enable them to regularly visit farmers on their farmlands for guidance, share new farming techniques, and report any agricultural challenges for appropriate government action,” Governor Namadi added.

The governor also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the federal government’s support and intervention in the state, which has contributed to achieving sustainable agricultural transformation and development.

In his speech at the occasion, the State Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon. Muttaka Namadi, noted that, aside from the distribution of subsidised inputs to 90,000 farmers, the state government, through the Jigawa State Agricultural Company, will commence the sale of hundreds of tonnes of fertiliser and other farm inputs across its 60 shops.

He noted that the sale of fertiliser and other inputs is also part of Governor Namadi’s administration policy aimed at ensuring farmers have access to quality inputs at the right time and at the right price.

He assured farmers in the state that the government, through the ministry and other affiliated agencies, will continue to support them with all necessary interventions to achieve sustainable agricultural growth.

For his part, Saifullahi Umar, Director-General of the Jigawa State Agricultural Transformation Agency (J-ATA), maintained that:

“To improve farmer incomes, we must increase yield per hectare. To create sustainable jobs for our teeming youth, we must make farming a business, not a struggle for survival—and our policies and programmes focus on these objectives.”

While farmers are optimistic about this timely support for the season, they have also stressed the importance of timely distribution to ensure a bumper harvest.

This latest “jumbo package” is part of a long-term vision to position Jigawa as a leading agricultural hub in Nigeria. The focus on solar irrigation, modern techniques like greenhouse farming, and strengthening extension services has great potential to move the state from subsistence to commercial farming.