The Government of Liberia has expressed readiness to collaborate with Jigawa State to expand rice production and strengthen food security.
Liberia’s Minister of Agriculture, David Akoi, disclosed this during a courtesy visit to Governor Umar Namadi on Wednesday in Dutse.
Akoi, who is in Jigawa for a study tour on rice farming in Nigeria, explained that the visit would allow the Liberian delegation to gain practical insights into rice cultivation, understand the value chain, and explore strategies to reduce the country’s dependence on rice imports.
“Rice is our staple food in Liberia consumed morning, afternoon, and night. It is not only a basic food item but also a politically sensitive commodity. In 1979, the attempt to increase rice prices sparked the ‘rice riots,’ which eventually led to the removal of President William R. Tolbert.
“Currently, despite our high consumption levels, domestic production is insufficient, with about 70% of our rice imported. Our administration is committed to reversing this by producing at least 70% of what we consume,” Akoi said.
He noted that the Liberian President specifically directed him to Nigeria, and particularly Jigawa State, to learn from its successes in rice cultivation rather than seeking solutions elsewhere.
“We are here to study how Jigawa has advanced its rice value chain, overcome challenges, and implemented innovations, so we can replicate similar progress back home,” he added.
In his remarks, Governor Namadi praised Liberia’s choice of Jigawa for the tour, noting that the partnership could yield mutual benefits. He emphasized that agriculture remains the foundation of Jigawa’s economy and a priority for his administration.
“From the start of this government, we recognized that boosting agriculture was the surest way to grow our economy and improve the livelihoods of our people,” he stated.
Namadi revealed that rice cultivation in Jigawa has grown from about 60,000–70,000 hectares in 2023 to over 200,000 hectares in 2025, with plans to reach 300,000 hectares by 2030 potentially supplying half of Nigeria’s rice demand.
He also highlighted efforts to adapt to climate change by shifting from rain-fed farming to irrigation, rehabilitating 10 dams to expand irrigation by more than 4,500 hectares, and providing modern equipment such as 300 tractors, 60 combined harvesters, and 150 planters under a tractor-hiring scheme.
Namadi concluded that these measures aim to enhance rice and cereal production while driving sustainable economic growth in the state.