Jigawa, Saudi Arabia partner on date palm plantations
Jigawa State has taken a significant step towards boosting its agricultural sector as Governor Umar Namadi received a delegation from a Saudi Arabian date palm production group at the Government House, Dutse.
The delegation, led by Nigeria-based Netay Agro-Tech, an agricultural business and consulting agency, was part of ongoing discussions on agricultural collaboration between the two parties.
Speaking at the event held, on Tuesday, Namadi expressed enthusiasm for the proposed partnership, affirming Jigawa’s readiness to provide the necessary support and resources to ensure the initiative’s success.
“We are excited about this partnership and are committed to providing the necessary support to make it a success.
“This partnership is expected to boost agricultural productivity and economic growth in the region. Date palm cultivation is a significant aspect of Saudi Arabia’s agricultural sector, and the country is considered one of the top three date-producing countries in the world”, the governor said.
Namadi further stated that the partnership is a step towards diversifying Jigawa’s economy and reducing its reliance on federal allocations.
He pointed out that by leveraging Saudi Arabia’s expertise in date palm cultivation, Jigawa can increase its agricultural productivity and create jobs for its citizens.
Earlier, the head of the Saudi team, Mr. Abdul’aziz Abdurrahman Al-Awf, said “Our visit to Jigawa aims to further deliberate on a proposed date palm production initiative in the state.”
He emphasised their commitment to sharing expertise, technology, and best practices to enhance Jigawa’s date palm cultivation.
The head of the team also emphasised the importance of sharing knowledge and best practices in agriculture.
“We believe that by sharing our expertise and technology, we can help Jigawa State achieve its agricultural goals,” he said.
The date palm production initiative is expected to have a significant impact on Jigawa’s economy, poverty level and living standards of citizens.
