Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa State has embarked on a significant study tour to Ethiopia with a high-level delegation comprising key aides on agricultural matters, officials, and professionals from the state ministry of agriculture, and relevant agencies.
In a statement to Radio Nigeria, Chief Press Secretary CPS to the Governor, Hamisu Mohammed Gumel, said the purpose of the visit is to study Ethiopia’s national wheat production initiative and participate in a comprehensive experience-sharing program with the country’s top agricultural officials and experts, with the aim of bringing home new ideas for the sector.
Hamisu Mohammed Gumel explained that wheat, being the second-largest grain globally in terms of production volume and acreage, holds critical importance in addressing food security challenges worldwide.
According to him, against this backdrop, Ethiopia has emerged as a key player in wheat production in Africa, demonstrating remarkable achievements in agricultural sustainability and productivity.
Hamisu Gumel further explained that the visit aims to achieve key objectives, including on-the-field assessment of Ethiopia’s successful national wheat production initiative and its benefits.
He pointed out that, other aims include facilitating knowledge exchange on wheat production systems and best practices, addressing challenges in sustainable wheat production, and enhancing collaboration between Ethiopia and Nigeria in adopting sustainable agricultural practices.
The CPS said, Specific focus areas include understanding Ethiopia’s long term plans for wheat production, assessing progress and challenges, exploring different production methods, and showcasing successful models like agricultural commercialization and farmer production clusters.
He stressed that during the four-day official visit, the Jigawa delegation would, among other important things, derive lessons on rain-fed and irrigated wheat production in various federal states of Ethiopia, as well as successful sustainable wheat production models, such as agricultural commercialization and farmer production clusters.
The CPS noted that, Jigawa State was currently the foremost wheat producer in Nigeria, significantly contributing to the nation’s agricultural sector and food security, and the study tour is expected to open opportunities for the state, achieve several critical outcomes that would help to enhance sustainable wheat production in the state.
Gumel emphasized that the visit stresses the commitment of Governor Umar Namadi’s administration in the state to exploring innovative agricultural practices for enhancing food security and transforming the agricultural sector into a business venture for the largely agrarian population in the state.
COV/USMAN MZ