Food self-sufficiency: Jigawa State Govt. to boost wheat production

The Jigawa state government has reiterated its commitment to enhance the cultivation of wheat in the state to support food self-sufficiency in the country.

Gov. Umar Namadi of Jigawa, said this on the sideline of the West and Central Africa Development Network Wheat (WECAWheat) second regional summit on Friday in Abuja.

Namadi, who emphasized on the state’s commitment to expand wheat cultivation, said that plans were underway to scale up production to 100,000 hectares of wheat farmland.

“We are aiming at 100,000 hectares this year, and we hope that we will be able to meet this target,” he said.

He said that the state government also planned to double its engagement with the Flour Milling Association to increase the land dedicated to wheat cultivation.

“Through the collaboration between the African Development Bank (AfDB), and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, 120,000 hectares was allocated to Nigeria. Out of that, 40,000 hectares were allocated to Jigawa state,” he said.

The governor said that local wheat farmers were benefiting from a substantial subsidy programme, with the state government covering 75 per cent costs associated with agricultural inputs.

He said this initiative was aimed to enhance wheat production and support food self-sufficiency in Nigeria.

Namadi said that the subsidy significantly alleviated financial burdens on wheat and other produce farmers in the state.

He said aside subsidizing inputs; there were ongoing efforts by the state government to improve availability of seeds for farmers.

The governor said that the state aimed to engage local youths in seed production to foster a lucrative agricultural sector.

Namadi expressed optimism that these initiatives would enhance wheat production in the state, ensure food self-sufficiency as well as boost agriculture in the country.

NAN / Foluke Ibitomi