By Abbas Nazil
The Jigawa State Government has intensified its collaboration with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, to drive agricultural growth and support smallholder farmers in the state.
A high-level delegation from IITA, led by Deputy Director-General Abdoulaye Tahirou, visited the Government House in Dutse to engage with state officials and discuss a tailored agricultural transformation plan.
During the visit, Mr. Tahirou expressed appreciation for the warm reception and highlighted the shared commitment to implementing an actionable plan designed to meet Jigawa State’s specific agricultural needs.
He noted that IITA’s team comprises experts in crop breeding, nutrition, soil science, seed systems, and key crops cultivated within the state, underlining the institute’s capacity to provide comprehensive technical support.
The delegation also formally requested the regularisation of land that IITA has been using in Jigawa for research activities over the past 25 years, emphasizing that formalising the arrangement would further strengthen the partnership.
Governor Malam Umar Namadi welcomed the delegation and described the visit as strategic, particularly following the state government’s recent engagement with IITA headquarters, where he observed the institute’s infrastructure and human capacity.
The Governor stressed that agriculture is the backbone of Jigawa’s economy and emphasized the importance of combining policy direction with expert technical guidance to empower smallholder farmers.
He highlighted that the state has repositioned farming as a business, aiming to increase yields while reducing production costs, and affirmed that expert support from IITA remains central to achieving this objective.
Governor Namadi assured IITA of the state’s readiness to implement the agreed work plan and sustain the collaboration, describing it as a win-win initiative that will directly benefit farmers and strengthen food security.
He further invited IITA experts to engage with local research institutions, noting that such collaboration would foster innovation, capacity building, and knowledge transfer within the agricultural sector.
The partnership is expected to enhance productivity, introduce modern farming techniques, and support sustainable agricultural development across Jigawa State, reinforcing both economic growth and food security objectives.
Officials from both the state government and IITA reiterated their commitment to working closely together, ensuring that technical expertise and policy support are fully integrated to achieve long-term agricultural transformation in the region.
