Jigawa, IITA deepen collaboration to drive agricultural growth
The Jigawa State Government is engaging in a sustained collaboration with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, as part of Gov. Umar Namadi’s commitment to transform agriculture in the state.
Hamisu Mohammed Gumel, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor Government House, Dutse, said this in a statement on Wednesday.
Gumel said that this was revealed when a high-level delegation from the institute, led
by the deputy director-general of IITA, Mr. Abdoulaye Tahirou, who represented the director-general, paid a courtesy visit to the Government House in Dutse.
The delegation expressed deep appreciation to the Jigawa State Government for the warm reception accorded to the delegation. His tone was appreciative but firm, underscoring a sense of shared purpose.
Tahirou revealed that, since their arrival in the state, the delegation had held an intensive working session with Jigawa State officials, resulting in a clear, concise, and implementable agricultural transformation plan tailored to the state’s needs.
“We are fully ready, as technical partners, to work shoulder by
shoulder with His Excellency and the people of Jigawa State to
implement this plan,” he said.
He said that the team included experts in crop breeding, nutrition,
soil science, seed systems, and essential crops grown in the state.
He also formally requested the regularisation of land that IITA has
been using in Jigawa State for research activities for nearly 25
years, stressing that formalising the arrangement would further
strengthen the partnership.
Responding, Namadi welcomed the delegation,
describing the visit as timely and strategic, especially following the
state government’s visit to IITA headquarters recently.
The Governor recalled his impression of IITA’s infrastructure and
human capacity, describing the institute as a centre with the
expertise capable of transforming agriculture not just in Jigawa
State, but across Nigeria.
“Agriculture is the backbone of our economy, and our smallholder
farmers are very dear to us. To truly empower them, we must combine
policy direction with expert technical support, and that is why this
partnership with IITA is very important to us.”
He emphasized that Jigawa State has repositioned farming as a
business, with the aim of improving yields while reducing production
costs, adding that expert guidance remains central to achieving this
goal.
The Governor assured the delegation of the state’s readiness to
implement the agreed work plan and sustain the collaboration, which he
described as a win-win collaboration that would directly benefit
farmers and strengthen food security.
He then invited IITA experts to engage with the state’s research
institutions, saying that such collaboration would allow for deepened
innovation and capacity building within the sector.
Jigawa, IITA deepen collaboration to drive agricultural growth
