By Abbas Nazil
Liberia has shown interest in adopting Jigawa State’s rice production strategies to transform its rice sector and reduce its heavy reliance on imports.
The West African nation’s Deputy Minister of Agriculture, David Akoi was recently in Jigawa State on a study your to learn from the state’s strategies and experience in the production of the food grain with the aim of his country adopting them.
Governor Malam Umar Namadi of Jigawa State has received the deputy minister of agriculture from the Republic of Liberia, David Akoi, on a study tour aimed at learning from Jigawa’s experience in rice production, with the goal of transforming Liberia’s rice sector and reducing its heavy reliance on imports.
During a courtesy visit to Governor Umar Namadi in Dutse, Akoi said the mission was to gain practical knowledge of the rice value chain, understand the processes involved, and learn strategies that could help Liberia increase its local rice output.
He noted that rice is not just a staple food in Liberia but also a politically sensitive commodity, recalling the 1979 “rice riot” that led to the overthrow of President William R. Tolbert following an attempted price increase.
Akoi explained that although Liberians consume rice multiple times daily, the country currently imports about 70% of what it eats.
He said the Liberian government’s plan is to reverse the situation by producing at least 70 percent of national consumption.
He added that President Joseph Boakai chose Nigeria, and particularly Jigawa State, as the preferred destination for this study tour because of its recent success in scaling up rice production.
He said the visit would focus on how Jigawa has moved from limited production to becoming a major contributor to Nigeria’s rice supply, how it overcame challenges, and what lessons could be replicated in Liberia.
Governor Namadi, in his response, commended Liberia for choosing Jigawa as its reference point, stressing that the exchange of ideas would be mutually beneficial in strengthening the rice value chains of both regions.
He reiterated that agriculture is the backbone of Jigawa’s economy and that his administration had prioritized it from the start as the best pathway to improve livelihoods and stimulate economic growth.
He disclosed that in 2023, the state cultivated between 60,000 and 70,000 hectares of rice, which increased to over 200,000 hectares in 2024, with the current target being nearly 300,000 hectares in 2025.
By 2030, the state aims to produce half of Nigeria’s rice needs.
Namadi noted that climate change remains a challenge, prompting the state to shift from rain-fed farming to irrigation.
He said the government is revamping 10 irrigation dams, adding over 4,500 hectares to cultivated land, and investing heavily in mechanization.
The governor revealed that the state had purchased 300 tractors with full implements, 60 combined harvesters, 150 planters, and other equipment to boost production.
Each of the 30 constituencies in Jigawa now has a minimum of 10 tractors available for smallholder farmers at subsidized rates.
He expressed confidence that with the right practices and shared experiences, both Jigawa and Liberia could achieve significant progress in rice self-sufficiency.
