The Jigawa State Government has deployed about 1,700 agricultural extension agents, distributed 6,000 solar-powered irrigation pumps and supported more than 250,000 farmers over three years as part of efforts to raise crop yields, strengthen food security and improve rural incomes.
Governor Umar Namadi disclosed this on Monday while delivering the keynote address at the 11th National Annual Conference of the Crop Science Society of Nigeria at the Nuhu Muhammad Sunusi Auditorium, Federal University Dutse, Jigawa State.
The governor said scientific research, political leadership and sustained investment were essential to transforming agriculture, warning that traditional farming methods alone could not meet Nigeria’s growing food needs amid climate change.
“A farmer with a hoe and old seeds cannot out-produce climate change,” Namadi said.
According to a statement issued on October 12, 2026, by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Hamisu Mohammed Gumel, the conference was themed “Advancing Sustainable Crop and Climate-Smart Technology for Food Security and Economic Growth.”
Namadi 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 said the government had repositioned and equipped the Jigawa State Agricultural Research Institute, supported postgraduate research through its Wheat Value Chain Research Programme and facilitated advanced studies for more than 80 Jigawa academics in relevant agricultural disciplines.
The governor said the state was also working with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, AfricaRice, CGIAR institutions and the Sasakawa Africa Association to translate research findings into practical improvements for farmers.
According to him, demonstration results from the partnerships recorded rice yield increases of between 43 and 48 per cent and sorghum yield improvements of more than 60 per cent compared with farmers’ usual practices.
“We are building a durable pipeline of specialist knowledge because the true test of science is not publication alone, but adoption: better varieties, healthier soils, more efficient water use, lower losses, higher yields, and stronger farmer incomes,” he said.
To improve farmers’ access to technical advice and modern agricultural practices, Namadi disclosed that the government distributed 1,185 motorcycles in 2026 to strengthen the work of extension agents in rural communities.
He said the state had also established a digital farmer database and input voucher system to improve the identification of genuine beneficiaries and reduce the risk of support reaching fictitious farmers.
“We have established a digital farmer database and input voucher system so that support reaches real farmers, not ghost farmers,” the governor said.
He added that the government had established Climate-Smart Agriculture Centres and 20 modern greenhouses for technology demonstrations and vegetable production, while extending mobile veterinary services to all 287 wards in the state.
On irrigation and mechanisation, Namadi said the government was collaborating with the Federal Government to develop approximately 18,000 hectares of farmland in the Hadejia axis.
He said the state had also provided 6,000 solar-powered irrigation pumps and borehole-based upland irrigation facilities to expand access to water for agricultural production.
The governor added that 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.
Beyond production, the administration is developing 200 integrated rice-processing clusters and supporting investment in the processing of rice, sesame, hibiscus and wheat.
Namadi said the investments were intended to improve value addition, reduce post-harvest losses and create wider market opportunities for farmers and agribusinesses.
He called for closer collaboration among governments, universities, research institutions, development partners and private investors, stressing that agricultural research should address farmers’ practical needs and contribute to economic growth.
At the conference, the governor was conferred with the Fellowship of the Crop Science Society of Nigeria in recognition of his administration’s agricultural initiatives and contributions to the sector in Jigawa State.
However, the statement did not provide a breakdown of the costs of the irrigation and extension programmes or independent data showing how the reported yield improvements had translated into higher incomes for farmers across the state.
West Trybe reports that Jigawa’s agricultural strategy combines research, irrigation, extension services and processing infrastructure to address challenges beyond simply increasing the amount of land cultivated. The long-term test will be whether these investments deliver sustained productivity gains, reduce post-harvest losses and improve earnings for farmers, particularly as climate change and rising production costs continue to pressure Nigeria’s food system.
