Jigawa State’s rapid progress in rice cultivation has drawn the attention of the Republic of Liberia, which is seeking to replicate the state’s success to reduce its heavy reliance on rice imports.
Leading a delegation on a study tour to Jigawa on Wednesday, Liberian Minister of Agriculture, David Akoi, met with Governor Umar Namadi in Dutse to explore collaboration opportunities. Akoi said Liberia, where rice is the main staple, consumes the crop three to four times a day but produces far less than it needs.
“We currently import 70 per cent of the rice we eat, and our government is determined to change that narrative,” Akoi said. “We chose Jigawa because it has moved significantly forward in its rice value chain, and we want to understand how they achieved that, so we can adapt the lessons to transform Liberia’s production.”
Governor Namadi welcomed the delegation, saying the state’s agricultural drive has been key to improving its economy and people’s livelihoods. He noted that Jigawa had expanded its rice fields from about 60,000–70,000 hectares in 2023 to 200,000 hectares, with a 2030 target of 300,000 hectares, enough to meet half of Nigeria’s rice demand.
Namadi also outlined measures taken to sustain production, including shifting from rain-fed farming to irrigation, rehabilitating 10 dams to cultivate 4,500 more hectares, procuring 300 tractors, 60 combined harvesters, and 150 planters, and introducing a tractor hiring scheme.
According to him, Jigawa’s strategy blends large-scale mechanisation, climate-resilient farming, and policy commitment, a model Liberia hopes to adapt in its quest for rice self-sufficiency.
