Jigawa Governor Heads Technical Mission to Argentina over Agriculture
In a bid to reposition Jigawa State as Nigeria’s leading hub for forage production and agribusiness, Governor Umar Namadi is currently leading a high-level technical learning mission to the Republic of Argentina, as part of his administration’s agricultural transformation drive.
The mission, undertaken in collaboration with El-Meena Farms Limited and international partners, including the Alkhorayef Group of Saudi Arabia, is focused on the industrialisation of the alfalfa value chain, a key component of Jigawa’s strategy to boost livestock productivity, attract foreign investment, and expand non-oil exports.
According to officials, the delegation is conducting an extensive study of the agricultural ecosystem in Córdoba Province, one of Argentina’s most advanced agribusiness regions. Córdoba’s semi-arid climate closely mirrors that of Northern Nigeria, making it a suitable model for adaptation in Jigawa State.
The delegation is examining Argentina’s “Cluster” agribusiness model, which integrates smallholder farmers into a technologically driven production and processing ecosystem. The model supports large-scale forage production for domestic livestock feed security while also enabling export to international markets, particularly in the Middle East.
Governor Namadi and his team have undertaken field inspections and industrial assessments aimed at developing a practical blueprint for Jigawa’s agricultural evolution.
As part of the programme, the delegation visited Biofarma S.A., a leading Córdoba-based animal nutrition company, to study advanced livestock health management systems, feed formulation techniques, and quality assurance protocols.
Speaking during the engagement, Governor Namadi described the mission as a strategic investment in Jigawa’s economic future.
“This mission is not merely a study tour; it is a foundational step toward creating jobs, strengthening our livestock sector, and increasing the Internally Generated Revenue of our state,” the governor said.
“By adopting proven Argentine industrial models, we are positioning Jigawa to transition from subsistence agriculture to a commercial, export-oriented agribusiness powerhouse.”
The technical delegation includes the Commissioner for Livestock Development, Dr Abdurrahman Salim Lawal, and the Director-General of the Jigawa Agriculture Transformation Agency (JATA), Dr Saifullahi Umar, alongside senior technical experts from the public and private sectors.
Officials said the mission is expected to conclude with the formalisation of joint ventures, technical assistance agreements, and investment partnerships, which would enable the immediate rollout of pilot projects at El-Meena Farms and the expansion of similar agribusiness clusters across Jigawa State.
The initiative aligns with the state government’s broader development agenda to leverage agriculture as a driver of employment, food security, and export earnings, while reducing reliance on federal allocations.
Analysts say Jigawa’s engagement with Argentina reflects a growing trend among Nigerian sub-national governments seeking practical, climate-compatible international models to accelerate agricultural industrialisation.
