By Aliyu Dangida
The Jigawa Research Institute (JRI) has completed a comprehensive Soil Resource Survey, Land Evaluation and Soil Fertility Mapping of Jigawa State, providing the State Government with critical scientific data for agricultural planning, sustainable land management and improved productivity.
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The report was presented to the Jigawa State Executive Council on Monday, October 5, 2026, by the Director-General of the Jigawa Research Institute, who highlighted the extensive field activities and scientific assessments undertaken across the state.
The landmark survey has generated comprehensive data on the landforms, soils, climate, land use and other critical land attributes of Jigawa State, creating what the institute described as an important scientific foundation for evidence-based agricultural development.
Conducted at a detailed scale of 1:25,000, the survey covered approximately 2.315 million hectares (23,154 km²) across the entire state.
According to the report, the exercise was undertaken to generate reliable baseline information for land development, agricultural planning and sustainable management of the state’s soil resources.
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One of the major findings of the survey is that approximately 98 per cent of Jigawa’s landmass is potentially suitable for agricultural production, underscoring the enormous agricultural potential of the state.
The survey also identified areas considered suitable for the production of major crops, including millet, hibiscus and rice, providing an important basis for more targeted agricultural interventions and investment decisions.
The JRI said the survey would enable the state to move beyond generalized agricultural planning towards site-specific and data-driven approaches to soil management and fertilizer applications.
It is expected to provide the scientific basis for sustainable land-use planning, identify land potentials and constraints for agricultural production, support site-specific fertilizer recommendations and promote sustainable soil and land management practices.
The exercise also resulted in the production of soil resource maps, soil fertility maps and land capability maps, providing policymakers, farmers, researchers, extension officers and investors with a clearer understanding of the state’s agricultural landscape.
Digital Soil Database Recommended
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Among the key recommendations presented to the council is the establishment of a comprehensive GIS-based digital soil resource database.
The institute recommended that the findings of the survey be digitised and regularly updated, with the database made accessible to relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), researchers, agricultural extension officers and investors.
Such a database, according to the recommendation, would strengthen evidence-based decision-making by enabling stakeholders to access accurate information on soil characteristics, fertility, land capability and agricultural suitability across different locations in the state.
Call for Fertilizer Blending Plant
The JRI also recommended that the State Government consider establishing a fertilizer blending plant capable of producing location-specific fertilizer formulations.
The recommendation is aimed at moving away from the application of uniform fertilizer rates across the state, given variations in soil characteristics and fertility levels from one location to another.
The institute noted that appropriate NPK formulations based on specific soil conditions could improve fertilizer-use efficiency, reduce production costs and minimize potential environmental degradation.
*Mobile Soil Testing for Smallholder Farmers
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Another major recommendation is the training and equipping of J-AGRO with mobile soil-testing kits capable of moving from community to community.
The initiative, if implemented, would bring soil-testing services closer to smallholder farmers and enable them to make better-informed decisions about fertilizer application and other soil-management practices.
The approach would also help translate the findings of the state-wide survey into practical benefits at the farm level, ensuring that scientific knowledge generated through the exercise reaches the farmers who need it most.
The completion of the survey marks a significant step in Jigawa State’s efforts to build a more scientific, efficient and sustainable agricultural sector, with the findings providing a valuable foundation for future agricultural investment, land-use planning, soil fertility management and food production.
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With nearly 98 per cent of the state’s land identified as potentially suitable for agriculture, the findings further reinforce Jigawa’s position as a state with substantial agricultural potential and provide policymakers with a stronger evidence base for unlocking that potential sustainably.
#Jigawa New Media Office
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