The Jigawa State Government has intensified its push to position the state as Nigeria’s rice production hub with a fresh investment of over N10.3 billion into its 2025 Dry Season Rice Cultivation Programme.
Commissioner for Information, Youth, Sports, and Culture, Sagir Musa, revealed the development after Tuesday’s State Executive Council meeting in Dutse, noting that the package combines N7 billion recently approved by the council with N3.26 billion already repaid by farmers from the previous cycle.
According to him, the funding is designed to guarantee timely access to quality inputs such as seeds, fertilisers, and chemicals, while also expanding irrigation infrastructure to sustain rice farming throughout the year.
As part of the intervention, N365.7 million has been set aside for the construction of 4,600 tube wells across farming communities, alongside the distribution of 20,000 solar- and gasoline-powered pumps. The state is also offering farmers soft loans with repayment subsidies ranging from 10% to 30%.
Launched in April 2025 at Jura village in Auyo LGA, the programme targets annual production of 3.6 million metric tonnes of rice across 1.2 million hectares, with 58,500 farmers already enrolled from 27 local councils. Beneficiaries receive improved seedlings, fertilisers, herbicides, and pesticides as part of their support package.
Musa stressed that the initiative is not only about increasing yield but also about strengthening food security and empowering rural farmers.
He warned that the government has zero tolerance for diversion of subsidised inputs, noting that offenders will face strict penalties.
