By Abdullahi Idris, Dutse
Governor Umar Namadi has lauded the outcomes of the Agrighar Scoping Study conducted across ten local government areas in the state, which culminated in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the agribusiness firm.
He hailed the findings as instrumental in empowering rural communities through inclusive, women-led, and technology-driven agriculture.
During the meeting with the Agrighar India team, led by Dr. Sowmini Sunkara on Saturday, the governor expressed his admiration for the thoroughness of the two-week scoping study.
“This study is a true reflection of our vision, and the dedication shown by your team has given us confidence that you are a partner in progress,” he stated.
The Agrighar team visited key regions and value chains including rice, groundnut, cassava, hibiscus, dairy, and fisheries and engaged with local stakeholders to understand their needs.
The governor emphasized that the proposals aligned perfectly with his administration’s agricultural transformation agenda.
“By 2030, Jigawa will be recognized not only in Nigeria but globally for the quality of our agricultural products.”
Key initiatives from the Agrighar Scoping Study include:
– Establishing agribusiness incubation clusters in vital LGAs to nurture youth and women entrepreneurs.
– Reviving non-functional processing centres in Jahun, Gidanara, and Kila Ward through Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models.
-Linking Jigawa producers to Kano markets for sesame, hibiscus, rice, dairy, and fish.
– Introducing solar-powered processing systems and modern packaging solutions to improve competitiveness.
– Strengthening cooperative governance, branding, and value addition to enhance rural incomes.
Dr. Sowmini highlighted that the goal is to create sustainable livelihoods and position Jigawa as a model state for inclusive agribusiness development in Nigeria.
“Our interactions during the field visits demonstrated the eagerness of local farmers and stakeholders to engage and innovate,” she stated.
Governor Namadi reiterated his administration’s commitment to immediate action towards implementing all the articles in the MoU.
“We are ready to work with you and start implementing this transformative project without delay. I want to assure you that this relationship is already established, and we are prepared to take the next steps.”
He also praised Agrighar’s grassroots engagement during the study tour.
“The way you interacted with our people showed that they are ready to collaborate. Their enthusiasm assures me that we are on the right path.”