NiWAB Identifies Gaps in Agribusiness in Jigawa

From Mika’il Tsoho

The Nigerian Women in Agribusiness (NiWAB) has called for the timely disbursement of farm inputs and improved access to agricultural business opportunities in Jigawa State.

This call was made during a state-level roundtable discussion with key agribusiness stakeholders, held on Wednesday at the New Secretariat, Dutse.

During the meeting, participants identified major challenges affecting the agricultural sector in the state and proposed strategic solutions to improve and sustain agribusiness operations.

Some of the key issues highlighted include farmers’ limited access to finance, delays in the distribution of farm inputs, inadequate training in modern farming techniques, and a shortage of agricultural extension workers.

Other challenges mentioned were the failure to target genuine farmers in various support programs, a lack of trust between farmers and support agencies, and poor loan repayment culture among some farmers—hindering others from benefiting from such schemes.

Speaking at the event, the North-West Coordinator of Nigerian Agribusiness, Hajiya Balaraba Abdullahi, said the roundtable aimed to identify the gaps and challenges facing agribusiness in Jigawa State.

She noted that while Jigawa is endowed with vast arable land, a significant portion remains underutilized due to a lack of adequate information and guidance on land use.

According to her, the meeting brought together chairpersons of associations for major crops cultivated in Jigawa, including hibiscus, sesame, rice, soybeans, groundnut, as well as representatives from fishery and poultry sectors.

Hajiya Balaraba further revealed that stakeholders had agreed to establish a joint platform comprising both state and non-state actors. The platform will lead high-level advocacy efforts targeting relevant authorities to address the identified challenges in the state’s agribusiness sector.

While commending Governor Malam Umar Namadi for his reforms in the agricultural sector, she urged the state government to intensify its efforts in order to boost job creation and drive economic development.