Since taking oath of office on May 29th last year as Governor of Jigawa state, Umar Namadi Danmodi, FCA, has carefully and strategically taken agriculture to the next level as one of his priority areas aimed at upscaling farming and youth empowerment to the next level.Â
Committing his time and state resources to the agricultural sector of the state is no big deal for Governor Danmodi. To boost farming and its value chain across the length and breadth of the state, the government procured 60 tractors for 27 Local Government Areas in addition to securing a $250,000 (N350m) loan from World Bank Community revolving Fund, CRF for 10 groups of farmers.
Furthermore, the state reduced the price of fertilizer by 40% thus making it more accessible and affordable to farmers.
It is on record that the Jigawa State government in the last 1 year constructed over 100km of embankments around flood-prone communities in addition to dragging over 50km of Hadejia river to enhance water management.
Making this success story public in commemoration of Governor Danmodi’s one year in office, Mallam Garba Alhadejawy, his special Assistant on New Media, stated that 1,444 J-Agro Extension agents and were employed in recognition of the importance of Agric extension services.
Provision of improved seeds and other farm implements at affordable and accessible prices, establishment of Jigawa Worker Agricultural Support Scheme, JWASS and Inauguration of the NG-Cares Area II – Fadama inputs and Agric scheme.
Driving home his desire to create 1,100 millionaire rice farmers in 11 federal constituencies of the state, the governor approved the release of N1.3bn for this purpose.
With this 200,000 hectares of rice were cultivated in the last one year, which translated to production of almost 800,000 tons of rice.
For Jigawa Government and its people, this is quite a huge success in Nigeria expressing the hope that by the end of this year’s rainy season, it will multiply to 1.6 million tons of rice which is about the 27% of Nigeria’s rice requirement. To further boost rice and wheat cultivation, the state government distributed 10 Combine Harvesters to large scale farmers
In consideration of the place of youth in national development, Governor Danmodi embarked on an all round agenda for the integration of the state’s teeming youth in moving the state forward and engaging them in productive ventures beneficial to them, the state and the nation.
Subsequently, he created Jigawa State Youth Employment and Empowerment Agency, where 260 trainees graduated from the state’s functional Skills Centres and given start-up kits in collaboration with ITF. Also an empowerment grant of N50,000 each to 1,000 women (youth) each as start-up capital for self reliance was doled out.
Other youth empowerment programmes rolled out by the Jigawa Governor include 2,350 slots from National Agency for the Great Green Wall, MoU signing between the Agency and ITF, Disbursement of N164m loan to SMEs across the state, empowerment grant of N50,000 each to 1,500 SMEs, settlement of outstanding 888 SMEs grant through BOI and graduation of 115 trainees of various trades in collaboration with ITF with start-up kits.
The rest are graduation of 40 youth with start- up capital and Laptops in collaboration with NITDA in Digital Skills and Artisans, training of 200 young talents on digital skills, disbursement of N50,000 grant each to 4,350 J-Cares beneficiaries to start-up businesses, disbursement of N30,000 each as empowerment grant to 1,000 PWDs, graduation of 250 trainees of Hand Pump Repairs and Installation with start-up kits and Motorcycle as well as job opportunities with monthly allowance and distribution of 91 Tricycle Machines as loan to the youth.
Other landmark and visible efforts of Governor Danmodi administration in the state also include bringing in Bank of Industry, BOI Branch Office to Dutse and signing an MOU as well as investing N4bn for the successful operation of the Bank in the state to boost small, medium and large business activities.
For Jigawa Governor Danmodi, he feels fulfilled that he has kept to his promise to impact the lives of farmers and youth in agriculture and youth empowerment sectors of the economy of the state. It is our wish as indigenes of the state that he will in the next 3 years left of his first term do more in achieving success in his 12 points agenda.
Musa Ilallah can be reached via musahk123@yahoo.com, Emeka Anyaoku street, Abuja.
