In continuation of its drive for attaining economic growth and development in the state through agricultural transformation, the Jigawa State Government is striking collaboration with a leading Saudi Arabian date palm production group and Netay Agro-Tech, a Nigeria-based agricultural business and consulting agency, to boost date palm production in the state.
This was made known when Governor Mallam Umar Namadi received 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, who paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House, Dutse.
The main purpose of the visit was to deliberate on a strategic partnership aimed at enhancing Jigawa’s date palm production through advanced agricultural expertise, technology transfer, and investment in large-scale farming.
Speaking at the event, Abdul’aziz Al-Awf revealed his group’s commitment to bringing state-of-the-art farming techniques to Jigawa, ensuring year-round date palm production rather than seasonal yields, highlighting that their collaboration would involve extensive farmer training, youth empowerment, and the introduction of some of Saudi Arabia’s most valuable and high-yielding date varieties.
“This partnership will not only increase the number of dates produced in Jigawa but also significantly improve quality, making the state a potential hub for date farming in Nigeria and Africa,” he said.
Governor Namadi expressed his administration’s full support for the initiative, saying it aligns with the state’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 on establishing date farms across the state, as well as improving our wheat production, align perfectly with our vision for agricultural development.”
He echoed Jigawa’s reputation as Nigeria’s leading wheat producer and stressed his vision of expanding 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.”
Governor Namadi reaffirmed his administration’s readiness to provide all necessary resources to ensure the successful implementation of the project. He expressed confidence that the collaboration would yield remarkable benefits and position Jigawa as a leading 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 done, 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.