Jigawa Empowers 400 Youths With Date Palm Farming To Tackle Unemployment, Desertification

The Jigawa State Government has trained 400 youths in date palm cultivation as part of a strategy to diversify the economy, create jobs, and combat desertification.

At the graduation ceremony held Monday at the Yakubu Gowon NYSC Orientation Camp in Dutse, Governor Umar Namadi said each beneficiary would manage 200 date palm trees on half a hectare of land, amounting to 200 hectares statewide.

The government pledged further support, including a two-year monthly allowance, industrial boreholes, and farming inputs to ease the transition into profitable ventures.

“Date palm cultivation is part of our tradition with both economic and environmental benefits. It boosts rural incomes, supports diversification, and mitigates desertification,” Namadi said.

The trainees were drawn equally from Birniwa, Yankwashi, Babura, and Sule Tankarkar LGAs. The governor urged youths to embrace skill acquisition and agriculture as a pathway to self-reliance.

Some beneficiaries described the programme as life-changing. Aminu Musa from Birniwa LGA said it gave him “hope and a real chance to support my family,” while Yusuf Sani from Babura LGA noted the training and financial support had put him on “the path to independence.”

The training covered planting, nurturing, and managing date palm trees to maximise yields and boost incomes.