By Abdullahi Idris, Dutse As part of its ongoing efforts to drive economic growth through agricultural transformation, the Jigawa State Go...
By Abdullahi Idris, Dutse
As part of its ongoing efforts to drive economic growth through agricultural transformation, the Jigawa State Government has entered into a strategic partnership with a leading Saudi Arabian date palm production group and Netay Agro-Tech, a Nigeria-based agricultural business and consulting agency, to enhance date palm farming in the state.
The partnership was announced during a courtesy visit to Governor Umar Namadi by a delegation from one of Saudi Arabia’s largest agricultural firms specializing in palm plantation and farm management, led by Abdul’aziz Abdurrahman Al-Awf, at the Government House in Dutse.
The primary goal of the collaboration is to leverage advanced agricultural expertise, facilitate technology transfer, and attract investment in large-scale date palm farming across Jigawa.
Speaking at the event, Abdul’aziz Al-Awf expressed his group’s commitment to introducing cutting-edge farming techniques that will enable year-round date palm production, rather than limiting yields to seasonal harvests. He emphasized that the partnership would include extensive farmer training, youth empowerment programs, and the introduction of some of Saudi Arabia’s most valuable and high-yielding date varieties.
“This collaboration will not only increase the volume of dates produced in Jigawa but also enhance quality, positioning the state as a potential hub for date farming in Nigeria and Africa,” he said.
Governor Namadi reaffirmed his administration’s strong support for the initiative, stating that it aligns with Jigawa’s agricultural development agenda.
“We warmly welcome you to Jigawa State and appreciate your interest in working with us. As a government, we are fully committed to this collaboration because it will greatly benefit our people. Your visit and willingness to partner with us in establishing large-scale date farms, as well as improving our wheat production, align perfectly with our vision for agricultural development.”
Highlighting Jigawa’s status as Nigeria’s leading wheat producer, Governor Namadi stressed his ambition to expand the state’s dominance in date palm cultivation.
“Jigawa is already the leading producer of wheat in Nigeria, and we are determined to maintain that position. With your technical expertise and modern technology, we are confident that we can further strengthen our wheat production. Additionally, while we are already recognized as the top producer of dates in Nigeria, our goal is to move beyond meeting local demand and begin exporting to international markets.”
He assured the delegation of his administration’s readiness to provide the necessary resources to ensure the successful implementation of the project, expressing optimism that the partnership would position Jigawa as a key player in the global date palm industry.
“We are committed to making Jigawa a centre for large-scale date farming, not just for local consumption but also for export. With the expertise and technology being introduced, we can revolutionize our agricultural sector, create employment, and boost economic prosperity for our people.”
During the visit, the Saudi delegation, alongside representatives from Netay Agro-Tech, toured various locations across the state to assess existing date palm plantations.
Abubakar Musa Bamai, CEO of Netay Agro-Tech, highlighted the extensive groundwork already completed, including soil analysis and consultations with research institutions. He announced that four highly sought-after date palm varieties—Mejdool (Meju), Barhi (Bari), Sukkari (Sukari), and Ajwa—have been identified as ideal for large-scale cultivation in Jigawa.
“We are excited about the potential here in Jigawa. With the government’s support, we plan to establish a model date plantation that will serve as a benchmark for future expansion. Advanced tissue culture techniques will also be integrated to ensure high-quality propagation and productivity,” he stated.
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