From Abdullahi Idris,Dutse
Jigawa State governor, Umar Namadi has flagged off the 2025 dry season rice programme with the launch of Jigawa Rice Value Chain Development Initiative, aimed at positioning the state as Nigeria’s leading rice producer.
The programme targets an annual rice production of 3.6 million metric tonnes through the cultivation of 1.2 million hectares of land.
Speaking at the event in Auyo Local Government Area, Governor Namadi described the launch as a turning point in the state’s agricultural development agenda.
“This event is more than just another agricultural initiative—it embodies our collective determination to position Jigawa State as Nigeria’s agricultural powerhouse and a key contributor to national food security,” he said.
The governor noted that Jigawa is already the second largest rice producing state in Nigeria and that the new programme would deepen this achievement.
Under the initiative, 58,500 farmers will benefit from subsidised inputs such as certified seeds, fertilisers, agrochemicals and access to irrigation equipment, including 20,000 water pumps (10,000 solar-powered) and 10,000 fuel-powered to ensure efficient water supply during the dry season.
Governor Namadi also said the state had set an ambitious but achievable target.
“Our goal is to reach 500,000 hectares of dry season rice cultivation by 2030, with the long-term objective of cultivating 1.2 million hectares annually to produce 3.6 million metric tonnes of rice,” the governor added.
He highlighted the state’s broader mechanisation agenda, including the procurement of 360 tractors, 70 combined harvesters and the establishment of Jigawa Farm Mechanisation Service Company to provide affordable mechanisation services to farmers.
To promote transparency, Governor Namadi said the state is implementing the Jigawa Input Voucher System to ensure accountability in input distribution.
In his keynote address, Technical Adviser on Agriculture, Dr Saifullahi Umar described rice as “the bedrock of food security, a critical driver of household incomes and a strategic commodity in our national agricultural transformation agenda.”
He explained that the programme was built around five pillars – access to inputs, extension services, financing, climate-smart practices and robust data systems.
He revealed that the 58,500 participating farmers would be grouped into 1,170 clusters for ease of monitoring and support, as each cluster will receive hands-on training in best agronomic practices, irrigation efficiency and financial management.
