1 month ago
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Jigawa State Governor, Umar Namadi
Jigawa State Governor, Umar Namadi, has announced that local wheat farmers are benefiting from a substantial subsidy programme, with the state government covering 75 per cent of costs associated with agricultural inputs.
This initiative according to the governor aims to enhance wheat production and support food self-sufficiency in Nigeria.
In an exclusive interview following the West and Central Africa Development Network Wheat second regional summit in Abuja, which concluded on Thursday, Namadi emphasised the state’s commitment to expanding wheat cultivation.
He stated, “You know that through the collaboration between the African Development Bank and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture 120,000 hectares were allocated to Nigeria and out of that, 40,000 hectares were allocated to Jigawa State. So, I will take up the challenge of the 40,000 hectares.”
He added that an additional engagement with the Flour Milling Association of Nigeria has resulted in another 5,000 hectares being cultivated, while those who did not benefit from the subsidy programme produced 10 hectares bringing the total to 55,000 hectares dedicated to wheat farming in the state.
“And in addition, we also had another engagement with the Flour Milling Association of Nigeria and we have done another engagement of 5,000 hectares. That will make us 45,000 here. And also, our farmers, those who are not able to get themselves into this programme, they cultivated about 10,000 hectares,” he stated.
The governor noted that the subsidy significantly alleviates financial burdens on farmers.
“With the support from the federal government, which gave us 50 per cent subsidy, we decided to help our farmers further by paying 75 per cent of the remaining 50 per cent.
“Consequently, farmers are only required to contribute 25 per cent towards the costs of inputs, a measure that has motivated more individuals to engage in wheat production. The results and outcomes have been very good,” he asserted.
Looking to the future, Namadi expressed ambitions to scale up production to 100,000 hectares, stating, “We are aiming at 100,000 hectares this year, and we hope that we will be able to meet this target.”
He added that the state government plans to double its engagement with the Flour Milling Association to increase the land dedicated to wheat cultivation.
In addition to subsidising inputs, the governor highlighted ongoing efforts to improve seed availability.
“The Ministry of Agriculture has brought in seed from Mexico, and we are also focusing on local seed production,” he explained.
The governor added that by involving local youth in seed production, the state aims to foster a lucrative agricultural sector, saying, “Seed production is very lucrative because you sell it at a premium price.”
He added that with these initiatives, Jigawa State is positioning itself as a leader in wheat production, aiming to secure food self-sufficiency and boost local agriculture
