Dry spell losses: FG moves to save Jigawa farmers’ planting season

From Abdullahi Idris, Dutse

Jigawa State Governor, Umar Namadi, has welcomed the Federal Government’s intervention to help farmers affected by dry spells and irregular rainfall, saying the distribution of certified improved seeds would enable them to recover lost production and strengthen food and nutrition security.

Gov.Namadi flagging off the distribution of fertiliser to farms community in Dustse

Namadi spoke on Thursday through his deputy, Engr Aminu Usman, who represented him at the flag-off of the Seeds for Renewed Hope Programme in Dutse.

The initiative, implemented by the National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC) in partnership with the Jigawa State Government, is expected to benefit about 5,000 farmers through the distribution of certified cowpea, sesame and groundnut seeds to enable them take advantage of the remaining planting window.

The governor described the intervention as timely, particularly for farmers who had suffered losses because of dry spells and erratic rainfall.

“Coming at a time when many of our farmers have suffered losses as a result of dry spells and irregular rainfall, this support will help affected farmers recover, replant and strengthen their resilience,” he said.

Namadi said the intervention would also advance the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda on food security, agricultural productivity and support for smallholder farmers.

He commended NASC for its role in regulating Nigeria’s seed industry and ensuring quality assurance and certification, saying certified planting materials would give farmers greater confidence in the inputs being supplied.

The governor said agriculture remained the backbone of Jigawa’s economy and the principal source of livelihood for most residents.

“When rainfall fails, the impact extends beyond farms to household income, food availability, rural employment, market activity and the well-being of families across our communities,” he said.

Under the programme, 32 tonnes of cowpea seed, packaged in 3,200 bags of 10kg each, will be distributed to 3,200 farmers. Another 8.35 tonnes of sesame seed, in 935 bags, will go to 835 farmers, while 900 farmers will receive 10kg bags of groundnut seed.

Namadi urged beneficiaries to use the inputs responsibly and follow the advice of agricultural extension officers on land preparation, planting, spacing, timing, pest management and post-planting care.

He said his administration would continue to strengthen extension services to ensure that farmers received not only inputs but also the technical support needed to maximise yields.

The governor said the intervention aligned with his administration’s 12-Point Agenda and its wider plan to transform agriculture into a more productive, resilient and commercially viable sector.

He said the strategy would promote food and nutrition security, job creation, irrigation, mechanisation, value addition and private-sector investment.

Namadi also disclosed that the state had ordered organic fertiliser as an alternative to chemical fertilisers, which he said could also serve as pesticides.

He assured the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and NASC of the state government’s cooperation in ensuring that the seeds reached genuine farmers and achieved the intended impact.

‘President directed intervention within planting window’

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, said the Federal Government introduced the intervention to help farmers recover part of the planting season lost to dry spells.

Kyari said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had approved the programme and directed that the inputs reach affected farmers while the planting window remained open.

“Mr President, His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, approved this intervention and directed that it reach affected farmers inside the planting window. That instruction is the whole difference,” he said.

Ahmed Bola Tinubu GCFR 
Nigeria President 

He said the programme was targeting approximately 4,935 smallholder farming households in Jigawa, with certified cowpea, groundnut and sesame seeds selected because they are short-duration crops capable of maturing within the remaining rainy season.

Kyari commended the Jigawa Government for its investment in irrigation, mechanisation, extension services, improved inputs and agricultural partnerships.

“Jigawa does not treat agriculture as a department of government. This state treats it as the economy, because it is the economy,” he said.

The Director-General of NASC, Fatuhu Mohammed, said the council would continue to ensure that farmers received quality planting materials through seed certification, laboratory testing, variety registration, quality assurance and regulatory enforcement.

He also praised the Jigawa Government’s investment in irrigation, mechanisation, improved inputs and extension services, as well as its efforts to attract private-sector participation in agriculture.

The governor inspecting the factory at Dustse

The flag-off brought together officials of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, NASC, the Jigawa State Government, farmer organisations and other stakeholders, with the focus on ensuring that the certified seeds reach beneficiaries in time for the remaining planting season.