Dutse, March 13, 2026
Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa state, has launched the third phase of the Civil Servants’ Agricultural Support Programme while unveiling the completion report of the FADAMA J-CARES 1.0 initiative, two major interventions aimed at strengthening livelihoods and boosting economic opportunities across Jigawa State.
The twin initiatives, launched in Dutse on Thursday, represent billions of naira investments targeted at agriculture, economic recovery and community resilience, with thousands of beneficiaries already impacted through both programmes.
Speaking during the launch of the workers’ agricultural support scheme under the 2026 Dry Season Rice Production Programme, the governor described the initiative as a strategic effort to encourage civil servants to participate actively in agriculture while improving their household incomes and financial stability.
According to him, the programme provides civil servants with access to quality agricultural inputs at controlled prices alongside working capital through soft loans with flexible repayment options, either in cash or farm produce, over an extended period.
The scheme, he said, was first introduced in July 2024 and has continued to record positive results, particularly with strong loan repayment performance among beneficiaries.
The governor said the initiative, was designed to enhance the livelihoods of civil servants, while preparing for a productive life after retirement.
He disclosed that the first phase supported 8,432 beneficiaries, with government assistance worth over ₦3.03 billion, while 5,750 civil servants benefited from nearly ₦1.26 billion in the second phase.
“With the launch of the third phase, about 3,000 additional beneficiaries will receive support valued at over ₦1.6 billion,” Namadi disclosed.
The governor further noted that the cumulative investment in the programme has now exceeded ₦5.9 billion, reaching more than 17,000 civil servants across the state and bringing thousands of hectares of farmland under cultivation.
Namadi also highlighted the measures introduced to improve transparency and efficiency in the programme, including digital profiling of beneficiaries, GPS verification of farm locations and electronic tracking of agricultural inputs at JASCO stores.
Later at the government House in Dutse, the governor presided over the unveiling of the FADAMA J-CARES 1.0 Compendium and Completion Report, marking the formal conclusion of the Jigawa COVID‑19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus Programme.
The programme was implemented by the state government with support from the World Bank, introduced to cushion the economic effects of the COVID‑19 by supporting vulnerable households, farmers and small businesses.
During its implementation, it reached over 47,800 beneficiaries in more than 1,200 communities across the state’s 287 political wards.
Furthermore, Namadi said the initiative had invested over ₦4.6 billion in agricultural inputs such as rice, maize, millet and sorghum seeds, as well as productive assets including processing machines, water pumps and livestock.
He thus revealed that the programme demonstrated how strategic partnerships and targeted interventions, can help communities break the cycle of poverty and build sustainable livelihoods.
