Jigawa State Governor, Malam Umar Namadi, has hosted the Deputy Minister of Agriculture from Liberia, David Akoi, on a study tour aimed at learning best practices in rice production.
Speaking during a courtesy call at the Government House, Dutse, Mr. Akoi said Liberia relies heavily on rice as a staple food but currently imports about 70% of its consumption needs.
He noted that the visit would help his country gain practical knowledge of the rice value chain to reduce importation and boost local production.
Mr. Akoi explained that rice is a sensitive political commodity in Liberia, recalling the 1979 “rice riots” that led to the overthrow of the country’s president at the time.
He stressed that the Liberian government is determined to change the dependency on imports and is targeting domestic production of at least 70% of national demand.
The Liberian official said Jigawa State was chosen for the study tour due to its rapid progress in rice cultivation, adding that the lessons learned would be used to transform Liberia’s rice industry.
Governor Namadi welcomed the delegation, noting that agriculture remains the backbone of Jigawa’s economy.
He said his administration has significantly expanded rice cultivation from about 70,000 hectares in 2023 to over 200,000 hectares in 2024, with a target of nearly 300,000 hectares this year.
He revealed that by 2030, Jigawa aims to produce 50% of Nigeria’s rice needs, supported by irrigation farming to mitigate the effects of climate change.
The governor said the state has revamped 10 irrigation dams to boost cultivation by over 4,500 hectares.
Governor Namadi also outlined investments in modern agricultural machinery, including 300 tractors, 60 combined harvesters, and 150 planters, with subsidized access for smallholder farmers in all constituencies.
He expressed optimism that the collaboration with Liberia would foster mutual benefits and strengthen both countries’ agricultural sectors.
Usman MZ
