Hadejia (Jigawa), Oct. 13, 2023: The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, on Thursday expressed the Federal Government readiness to grow wheat in 70,000 hectares in Jigawa.
The minister said this at the Emir’s Palace shortly after facility tour at Malam Alu Farm in Birnin kudu Local Government and a 10 hectares rice farm at Marma, a bordering village between Kirikasamma and Guri Local Government Areas.
Kyari said that the tour was part of the Ministry’s fact finding mission to ascertain the preparedness of the Jigawa State Government and the selected demonstration farms for its plans togrowing Higher yield seedlings of wheat this season.
He said that the ministry’s decision to start the demonstration farm in Jigawa was informed by Gov. Umar Namadi’s zealousness and commitment toward making Jigawa as one of the leading wheat growers states in the country.
The minister said that Jigawa was the first state to offered 40,000 hectares to ministry and later added 30,000 hectares, making 70,000 hectares, adding that so far no state has provided up to 40,000 hectares.
Kyari, however, assured the Emir of Hadejia, Alhaji Adamu Abubakar and the people of Jigawa that President Bola Tinubu’s administration was prepared for commence action on its promise to boost food security through smart agricultural farming in the country.
Responding, the Emir, who was represented by the Galadiman Hadejia, Alhaji Usman Abdulaziz, expressed appreciation to the president and the ministry for choosing Hadejia Emirate in preparation for the demonstration farm.
The Emir urged the federal government through the Ministry to start planning for this wheat season in earnest, adding that “the time to start planning for growing wheat is now.”
Abubakar also appealed to the people of Jigawa, especially the wheat growers whose farms were selected for the laudable project to be sincere and honest in their respective operations.
Similarly, at the Marma village, the minister promised to support wheat growers in Jigawa with higher seedlings ahead of irrigation season in order to achieve the federal government desired objectives to boost food security in the country.
Kyari said that the administration had put the necessary arrangements to equipped wheat growers with all the necessary implements.
He said that the ministry had also set up a climate change monitoring committee with the responsibility of providing experts assistance on climate change related issues on the crops the to growers from planting to harvesting.
