Liberia to Collaborate with Jigawa State on Rice Farming for Food Security
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Liberia to Collaborate with Jigawa State on Rice Farming for Food Security |
The Government of Liberia has announced plans to partner with the Jigawa State Government in Nigeria on large-scale rice farming, aiming to boost domestic production, cut reliance on imports, and enhance food security across the West African region.
The development emerged when Liberia’s Deputy Minister of Agriculture, David Akoi, led a delegation to meet Governor Malam Umar Namadi at the Government House in Dutse on Tuesday evening.
During the meeting, Akoi expressed his delegation’s interest in tapping into Jigawa’s expertise in rice cultivation. He noted that Liberia, a country where rice is a staple food consumed three to four times daily, still imports around 70% of its rice needs. “The Liberian government is determined to reverse this dependency and meet at least 70% of our domestic rice demand,” Akoi said.
According to him, President Joseph Boakai specifically directed the visit to Jigawa to study its successful rice value chain model. “We are here to learn from Jigawa’s agricultural policies, irrigation systems, and processing techniques, which have made the state a leading rice producer in Nigeria,” he added.
Akoi also reflected on Liberia’s turbulent rice history, recalling the 1979 Rice Riots that led to the overthrow of President William R. Tolbert. He emphasised that rice remains central to Liberia’s economic stability and political peace. “By partnering with Jigawa, we believe we can transform our rice sector and significantly improve our economy and food security,” he said.
Governor Namadi welcomed the partnership proposal, describing agriculture as the backbone of Jigawa State’s economy. He revealed that the state had expanded its rice cultivation from 60,000–70,000 hectares in 2023 to over 200,000 hectares in 2024. “Our target is to reach close to 300,000 hectares this year and meet 50% of Nigeria’s rice needs by 2030,” he stated.
Namadi credited Jigawa’s achievements to strategic investments in irrigation farming, which not only boosts yield but also mitigates the effects of climate change. He noted that the state has rehabilitated several irrigation dams, adding over 4,500 hectares of arable land to production.
He further highlighted the state’s commitment to mechanisation, with the procurement of 300 tractors, 60 combine harvesters, and 150 planters. Each of the 30 constituencies now has at least 10 tractors available for smallholder farmers at subsidised rates, ensuring widespread access to modern farming tools.
This partnership between Liberia and Jigawa is expected to strengthen regional food systems, enhance cross-border agricultural cooperation, and serve as a model for other African nations looking to boost self-sufficiency in staple crop production.
