Governor Mallam Umar Namadi of Jigawa State has flagged off the departure of 30 newly recruited “master technicians” to China for specialised training in agricultural mechanisation. The programme is part of the state’s broader strategy to modernise agriculture and enhance productivity through advanced technology and capacity building.
Speaking during the farewell event at the Council Chambers of the Government House, Dutse, the state capital, the governor described the initiative as a landmark moment in the state’s agricultural history.
He reiterated that agriculture remains the basis of Jigawa State’s economy and stressed the government’s commitment to mechanising farming practices to boost proficiency and reduce manual labour.
To facilitate this transformation, 60 service centres have been established across the state, along with the appointment of a managing director for the Jigawa State Farm Mechanisation Programme, a fully independent company registered under the Corporate Affairs Commission. The company will oversee the deployment of farm machinery and ensure its maintenance and operational sustainability.
According to Governor Namadi, the state government has already made substantial progress in this regard, including the procurement of 300 tractors, 60 combine harvesters, disc ploughs, sprayers, and other essential farm implements.
He also announced that 65% of the payment for the machinery has been made, with the remaining 35% expected to be completed by the end of next month. Deliveries of the equipment are anticipated to begin by late December 2024 or early January 2025, he said.
The governor emphasised that these machines would be made accessible to farmers across the state through the service centers, where farmers can be able to hire tractors and other equipment at heavily subsidised rates, ensuring affordability and sustainability of the programme.
“Our goal is to ensure the mechanisation of agriculture, making these tractors available to all farmers in the state. All farmers have to do is visit any of the service centres, request a tractor, and the tractor will be delivered to their farms to render services.”
He stated that the 30 technicians traveling to China would undergo six to eight weeks of training in agricultural equipment maintenance and operation. These individuals, who are graduates with engineering and agricultural engineering backgrounds, are expected to return as master technicians equipped to manage the service centers and maintain the machinery.
“To further guarantee the success of this programme, we are sending 30 graduates to China today for training as master technicians. These individuals, ladies and gentlemen, are all engineering graduates, most of whom have agricultural engineering backgrounds. They will be trained to maintain and ensure the efficient operation of these equipments. These young graduates will become the lifeline of our agricultural modernisation Programme, and that is why their role is so crucial.”
The training programme is part of a comprehensive capacity-building initiative under the Jigawa Agricultural Mechanisation Support System (JAMSS). In total, the programme will train 2,726 individuals in various specialisations, including tractor operation, fleet management, and service centre management. The initiative is expected to create approximately 8,000 indirect jobs while servicing a minimum of 180,000 hectares annually.
“This is not just about agriculture; it is about building a legacy. By modernising agriculture, we are securing the future of Jigawa State and creating opportunities for generations to come,” the governor remarked.
The Jigawa Agricultural Mechanisation Programme is projected to not only revolutionise farming practices in the state but also position Jigawa as a leader in agricultural innovation in Nigeria.
