By Lanre Shodimu
The Jigawa State Government has part of its efforts at improving livestock production in the state, has signed a $10m joint venture agreement with India’s Srinivasa Farms Private Limited to establish a amodern poultry hatchery aimed at improving the supply of day-old chicks to farmers.PUNCH online reports that the development was announced in a statement issued on Friday by Hamisu Mohammed Gumel, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Umar Namadi.
Srinivasa Farms is to hold a 60 per cent stake in the venture, while the state government will own the remaining 40 per cent.The state government said the proposed facility was expected to be the first modern hatchery of its kind in Northern Nigeria.
The state Governor, Umar Namadi, who was optimistic at the signing ceremony, said the investment would create opportunities for poultry farmers and support efforts to improve food security.“I am confident that this project will revolutionise the poultry industry, not only in Jigawa State and Northern Nigeria, but across the country. It is also part of our efforts to support the Federal Government’s agenda on food security,” he said.Namadi said the partnership followed engagements with the Indian company, including a visit by a state delegation to its facilities in India, where officials observed its poultry operations and support programmes for smallholder farmers.
He said the company’s approach to helping smallholder farmers establish sustainable businesses informed the state’s decision to enter the partnership.“With this joint venture, I believe the poultry industry will thrive in Jigawa State, Insha Allah,” the governor said.
The agreement includes provisions for training, technical guidance and other support for smallholder poultry farmers to improve production and business operations.Namadi said the hatchery deal was one of five partnerships being pursued following his visit to India to attract investment, strengthen agricultural value chains and create opportunities for young people.The Vice-President of Srinivasa Farms, Senthil Kumar Krishnan, said the project would focus on empowering rural communities and improving poultry production through technical services and quality products.He said poultry farmers in Jigawa currently relied on day-old chicks transported from distant locations, including Kaduna, with long journeys sometimes affecting the birds’ condition by the time they arrived.
“By producing the chicks locally, we will be able to address these challenges. We will work with the government to provide the best possible support to farmers so that they can obtain quality chicks when they need them,” Krishnan said.He added that the company would provide technical support to farmers on raising the birds and improving production outcomes.“Better production performance will translate into improved profitability for farmers.
That is our main target,” he said.The Commissioner for Livestock Development, Professor Salim Abdurrahman Lawal, said the investment would address challenges facing poultry farmers, particularly the high cost and unreliable supply of day-old chicks.He said many chicks supplied to farmers in the northern region were transported from production centres in southern Nigeria over distances estimated at between 1,200 and 1,500 kilometres.“This long journey affects their condition and slows their response to feeding,” Lawal said.
He added that the proposed hatchery would reduce transportation distances within Jigawa, with no location in the state expected to be more than approximately 150 kilometres from the facility.Lawal said the government also planned to establish delivery facilities and involve young people in distributing the chicks.
