By Usman Muhammed Zaria
Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa State has identified strong political leadership, agricultural research and sustained investment as key pillars for transforming agriculture, improving food security and creating economic opportunities for farmers.
He stated this on Monday while delivering the keynote address at the 11th National Annual Conference of the Crop Science Society of Nigeria (CSSN), held at the Nuhu Muhammad Sunusi Auditorium, Federal University Dutse.
According to a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor in Dutse, the conference had the theme, “Advancing Sustainable Crop and Climate-Smart Technology for Food Security and Economic Growth.”
Governor Namadi said Nigeria’s growing population and the increasing impact of climate change required improved farming technologies, stronger research institutions and policies that support farmers.
He noted that traditional farming methods alone could no longer meet current food production needs, adding that “a farmer with a hoe and old seeds cannot out-produce climate change.”
The governor said agriculture remained central to his administration’s 12-Point Agenda, supported by the Jigawa State Agricultural Policy 2024–2030 and the State Agricultural Investment Plan.
He highlighted investments in agricultural research, including the repositioning of the Jigawa State Agricultural Research Institute, postgraduate research under the Wheat Value Chain Research Programme and advanced studies for more than 80 Jigawa academics in relevant agricultural disciplines.
Namadi also cited partnerships with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), AfricaRice, CGIAR institutions and the Sasakawa Africa Association, which he said had recorded rice yield increases of 43 to 48 per cent and sorghum yield improvements of more than 60 per cent compared with farmers’ usual practices.
On agricultural extension services, he disclosed that the state had deployed about 1,700 J-AGRO extension agents and distributed 1,185 motorcycles in 2026 to improve farmers’ access to technical advice and modern farming methods.
He added that the state had introduced a digital farmer database and input voucher system, established Climate-Smart Agriculture Centres and constructed 20 modern greenhouses for technology demonstration and vegetable production.
The governor further highlighted irrigation and mechanisation initiatives, including plans to develop approximately 18,000 hectares in the Hadejia axis in collaboration with the Federal Government and the provision of 6,000 solar-powered irrigation pumps.
He said more than 250,000 farmers had benefited from agricultural inputs, mechanisation and irrigation support over the past three years, while fertiliser support under the 2026 wet-season farming programme was targeted at 90,000 farmers.
Namadi also disclosed that the state was developing 200 integrated rice-processing clusters and supporting the processing of rice, sesame, hibiscus and wheat to reduce post-harvest losses, improve value addition and expand market opportunities.
He called for stronger collaboration among governments, universities, research institutions, development partners and the private sector, stressing that agricultural research must translate into practical benefits for farmers.
At the conference, he was conferred with the Fellowship of the Crop Science Society of Nigeria in recognition of his administration’s contributions to agricultural development in Jigawa State.
Editing By Yusuf Zubairu
