COMMODITY MARKETS IN THE NORTH-WEST NIGERIA
NORTH-WEST THE AGRICULTURAL HUB OF NIGERIA
North-western region is the part of the country with the most arable land and very fertile for all farming activities. The region has seven states namely Sokoto,Kano,Kaduna,Katsina,Jigawa,Kebbi and Zamfara state. All these seven state have large population of peasant and subsistence farmers that contribute to the economy of the region .Each of these state has advantage of some crops over another with intersection of capacity in major food crops like sorghum,millet,maize and cowpea. But some state can burst on some special produce that are of international demand. We shall narrate the crops available from each state.
Sokoto State
Sokoto is a semi-arid state with acidic sandy soil and have least annual rainfall record and less agricultural produce especially the food crops except millet and sorghum but are popular in cash crops, such as; Garlic and Onions the eastern part of Sokoto state participate largely in the farming of Onions and Garlic which are widely used in the country they are the major suppliers of these produce in the country and they also export to the west African countries. The garlic and Onion farming is facilitated through the popular Goronyo dam.
Kaduna State
Kaduna is a savannah region with fertile and sandy soil Kaduna produce almost all the food crops and they exceptional with the production of Ginger and Turmeric as cash crops this farming is popular in Kachia, Kagarko, Kafanchan, Kubacha and some southern part of the state.The soil condition of the area make suitable for producing the best quality Ginger in the world. In the Northern part of Kaduna Irish potatoes, pepper, Tomatoes sweet potatoes and cereals are largely harvested annually and exported to other states in the country.
Kano State
Kano is the largest state in the North-Western Nigeria with 44 local governments, the state has the largest number of Dams for irrigation farming. This has pave ways for the state to have more farming activities but during the rainy and dry seasons. Kano state participate in almost every type of farming activities with the exception of Ginger and turmeric, although some of the produce are easily being commercialized due to its position of being the commercial hub of the region and one of the major commercial hub of Nigeria. With the advantage of Dams in the state Kano people are very popular in cultivation of vegetables such as; Tomatoes, Pepper, Cabbage, Carrot and garden egg. Still in the food crops wheat, Rice ,Sweat potatoes are easily available around Tiga, chalawa other irrigation sites in the state. Kano has about twenty functional dams.
Kano enjoy the popular Dawanau market where all agricultural commodities are traded easily therefore all the states in the northern states of the country are linked to Dawanau market for Agribusiness.
Katsina State
Katsina is a boarder state to Niger Republic and some part of Katsina are semi-arid in nature. There is Jibiya dam in the western part of Katsina and for that Katsina is into diverse agricultural activities but they are popular in Maize farming. other crops are cultivated and katsina is generally significant in the production of other crops such as; Rice, Cowpea, Sorghum, Millet, Groundnut and vegetables. The major cash crop is the cowpea(Soya Beans) and Cotton.
Agribusiness thrive in the border community of Jibiya, Daura and Mani local government where commodity are exported to Niger Republic and Tiger-nuts, Date, finished product like Rice, sphagetti, vegetable oil and dairy products are imported into the country.
Jigawa State
Jigawa has a good fertile soil which is suitable for all crops, Jigawa people are active in the area of Rice, wheat, Millet and Sorghum cultivation and their land harbors Fulani cattle breeders due to large grazing area. Cash crops produced in the area are Sesame, Groundnut, Date and Hibiscus. Maigatari and Babura are major border market where exchange of farm produce and livestock is taking place other border communities in the state are Birniwa and Kazaure all are bordering Niger Republic.
Kebbi State
Kebbi is popular in rice farming which poise the state to host two rice processing company one indigenous (LABANA RICE) in the capital city of Birnin Kebbi and other owned by external investors(OLAM) at Argungu, Kebbi enjoy a partnership with Lagos state in Rice production. Kebbi lies at the bank of Nigeria’s major River( River Niger) in the western part of Yauri where fishing activities is predominant, the state is waterlogged in some areas hence the Rice farming. In the Zuru Area Cowpea (Soya Beans) and Sorghum are major crops. Kebbi has a Border with Benin Republic in Kamba local government of the state. The major crops in Kebbi are Cowpea (Soya Beans), Sorghum, Rice, Millet, Sesame, Hibiscus and Maize. Fishing activities thrive in Kebbi in the riverine areas of Yauri. Onion is the major cash produce in Kebbi, Alero is popular in production of Onion throughout the northern state and the neighbouring west african countries.
Zamfara state
Zamfara housed the popular Bakolori Dam with over twenty thousand hectares of irrigation area around the Dam in Talata Mafara local government, Rice farming is very popular throughout the state, other local governments also participate in the Rice farming with upland variety of Rice. Zamfara is popular in the production of Cowpea (Soya Beans), Sorghum, Maize, Millet, Groundnut, Sesame and Beans.
Other Agricultural output in the state are Cassava, Yam, potatoes and Hibiscus. Zamfara is earlear known for cotton farming since colonial’s time hence the presence of Zamfara textile and ginneries in the state there was oil mill also in the state because of the groundnut production in the area. Presently medium size rice mils are springing up to seize the opportunity of the rice production in the area.