By; DAHIRU SULEIMAN, Dutse
The Agricultural Committee of Jigawa State in North Western Nigeria and its Niger Republic counterparts, Zinder held a meeting on August 14, 2022 and discussed on bilateral resolutions of Jigawa-Zinder economic and political integration.
A statement issued by the Jigawa State Ministry of Agriculture and signed by its Commissioner, Awwal D. Sankara stated that the two states have agreed to partner during the next dry season without compromising on the full protocols.
The two countries have agreed to increase the number of varieties to three against two and increase trial locations from 8 to 10.
They also resolved on the exchange of seed varieties.
Similarly, both countries have agreed on exchange of two varieties of rice to be cultivated during dry season ( Jigawa to Zinder Faro 44 and Ex- Badaru ) Zinder to Jigawa Gambiaca and Narica).
One variety in each state is performing (Narica in Jigawa and Ex- Badaru in Zinder), while Gambiaca has stayed four months without flowering in Jigawa State and Faro 44 gave 0% germination in all the eight locations planteed in Zinder.
After extensive deliberations on the factors that led to the failure of the two varieties adaptation in the two states, the commitee resolved that each of the states is to conduct germination test of the exchanged varieties before planting.
Also, sharing the result of the two rice performing varieties after harvest, as well as exchanging of crop varieties is currently doing excellently ( Zinder to Jigawa millet Ba- Anguré and cowpea Mai Fitila) Jigawa to Zinder, Sesame Ex – Sudan) and share results after harvest.
On Sugarcane harvesting, Zinder State has pledged to support Jigawa with its three high yielding varieties where it is expected that samples of such yields would be brought from Zinder to Jigawa for trials ( SP- 71- 6130, CO- 497 and DTS 33) with complete protocol .
The bilateral agreement has also dwelt on solar powered boreholes mechanised agriculture, where it was agreed that Jigawa State would borrow a leaf from Zinder’s Aremari and Baouda solared grazing Reserves.
Under the agreement, Jigawa State has awarded the contract for the drilling of two solar powered watering facility at Aremari and Baouda grazing reserves.
Already, a geophysical survey was conducted on August 4 and the result proved positive and the contractor has mobilised to site and machines are currently at Macina.
In realization of this set objectives, the commitee resolved as follows:
(i) That the drilling contractor should be adequatly provided with the security and safety of his equipment while in the site,
(ii) The state of Zinder should take the responsability of the maintenance of the facilities after successfully completion as well as frame work for the management of the grazing reserve.
4. Purchase of Sahelian Goats :
In order to improve the goat landscape of Jigawa for economic prosperity, Jigawa state has now made arrangement fot the purchase of 645 Sahelian goats .
Already money was earmarked for the purchase , the meeting therefore resolved that :
(i) The Jigawa state Representative to jointly move with the Livestock Department of the State of Zinder to identify breeders and select appropriate breeds for the purchase,
(ii) The Livestock department of Zinder to vaccinate and facilitate the document for the movement of livestock from Zinder to Jigawa State border.
5. Bilateral Agreement of Transborder movement of livestock:
An agreement was presented to the commitee concerning the transhumance , grazing by pastoralist between the two sister States of Zinder and Jigawa , the commitee however resolved that :
(i) The Agreement presentation was stand down and be refered to security commitee and Jigawa State Ministry of Justice for discussion and vetting respectively before consideration.
