New HJRBDA MD unveils plans to boost irrigation in three northern states
In a bold move to transform northern Nigeria’s agricultural landscape, the newly appointed Managing Director of the Hadejia Jama’are River Basin Development Authority (HJRBDA), Rabiu Suleiman Bichi, has announced strategic plans to dramatically increase irrigation coverage and paddy rice output across Kano, Jigawa, and Bauchi states.
Bichi revealed that under his leadership, irrigation coverage will be expanded from 54,000 to 240,000 hectares, aiming to raise paddy rice production from 216,000 tonnes to one million tonnes. These reforms are directly aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to revitalize agriculture as a key driver of national growth and food security.
In addition to irrigation expansion, Bichi introduced a roadmap with measurable Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to guide the Authority’s operations over the next four years. These include:
- A 30% year-on-year increase in crop yield via modern agricultural practices.
- A 20% improvement in water-use efficiency through Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM).
- Youth empowerment programs to train at least 5,000 young people in diverse agricultural disciplines.
To strengthen implementation, HJRBDA will partner with key institutions including the Bank of Agriculture (BOA), National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), and the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI).
Bichi also pledged to raise community satisfaction levels to 85% through inclusive planning and a participatory basin management model. He threw his support behind the First Lady’s “Every Home a Garden” initiative, calling it a transformative program that complements the Authority’s goals.
As part of his leadership approach, Bichi emphasized continuity where effective structures exist, while also introducing targeted reforms. He acknowledged the contributions of his predecessor and expressed gratitude to APC National Chairman Abdullahi Umar Ganduje for his support.
Source- Tribune Online
Expert Review for Agri-Food Stakeholders
The HJRBDA’s reform agenda under Rabiu Bichi holds significant promise for Nigeria’s agri-food sector, particularly in the rice value chain. Here’s what this means for stakeholders across agribusiness, input supply, irrigation technology, agri-financing, and food systems development:
- A Game-Changer for Nigeria’s Paddy Rice Self-Sufficiency: Scaling paddy rice output to 1 million tonnes would significantly reduce Nigeria’s dependence on rice imports, stabilize prices, and enhance food sovereignty. This is a ripe opportunity for:
– Input suppliers (seeds, fertilizers, irrigation kits) to position their products at scale.
– Milling and processing companies to expand capacity and secure upstream supply contracts.
- Expanding the Irrigation Ecosystem: The targeted 240,000 hectares of irrigation land opens up a broad market for:
– Irrigation service providers, especially those offering drip and sprinkler systems optimized for water-use efficiency.
– Digital agri-tech startups developing precision agriculture tools for irrigation scheduling, soil moisture monitoring, and energy-efficient water pumping.
- Integrating Youth into Agriculture Value Chains: Training 5,000 youth is a significant pipeline for building a future-forward agri-workforce. Stakeholders in agri-business incubation, agritech hubs, and vocational training should:
– Collaborate with HJRBDA to develop hands-on, market-aligned training programs.
-Offer startup support and microcredit schemes to trained youths for enterprise take-off.
- Private Sector Collaboration with Government Institutions: Strategic partnerships with BOA, NBTE, and NASENI signal a commitment to institutional synergy. Agribusinesses and investors should:
– Tap into government-enabled financing and infrastructure support programs.
– Align business models with national development priorities, particularly around youth inclusion and water efficiency.
- Improving Farmer-Centric Governance :The 85% community satisfaction KPI, if effectively implemented, could boost trust and accountability within farming communities. This creates a conducive environment for:
– Private extension services to complement public initiatives.
– Stronger value chain governance through farmer organizations and cooperatives.
Strategic Outlook for Agribusiness Players
This initiative by HJRBDA marks a shift from piecemeal interventions to systemic transformation. Stakeholders across Nigeria’s agri-food ecosystem—especially those focused on rice, irrigation technologies, capacity building, and agrifinance—should closely monitor implementation and seek avenues for strategic alignment and collaboration.
