Jigawa sign $10 million deal with Indian firm to build modern hatchery

The Jigawa State Government has executed a ten-million-dollar joint venture agreement with Srinivasa Farms Private Limited, an Indian enterprise, to construct a modern poultry hatchery. The deal, which positions the state government as a forty percent shareholder and Srinivasa Farms as the holder of sixty percent equity, aims to establish the first modern hatchery of its kind in Northern Nigeria. Governor Malam Umar Namadi presided over the signing ceremony, describing the initiative as a pivotal step in the state’s broader agricultural transformation strategy. He expressed confidence that the project would revolutionize the poultry sector not just in Jigawa and the North, but across Nigeria, while simultaneously supporting the federal government’s food security agenda. The partnership stems from prior engagements between state officials and the Indian company. A state delegation visited Srinivasa Farms’ facilities in India, observing their poultry operations and specific programs designed to assist smallholder farmers. Governor Namadi noted that the company’s method of empowering smallholders to build sustainable businesses strongly influenced the state’s decision to proceed. He highlighted that local poultry farmers have faced years of struggles and financial losses due to existing market conditions. With the new joint venture, he predicted the industry would thrive in the state. Under the terms of the agreement, Srinivasa Farms will provide training, technical guidance, and additional support to help smallholder poultry farmers enhance their production and business operations. Senthil Kumar Krishnan, Vice President of Srinivasa Farms, stated that the project focuses on empowering rural communities and boosting production efficiency through quality products and technical services. He pointed out that Jigawa farmers currently rely on day-old chicks shipped from distant locations, such as Kaduna. These long transport routes often compromise the health and quality of the birds before they reach the farms. By producing chicks locally, the company intends to resolve these logistical issues, ensuring farmers receive healthy stock when needed. Krishnan emphasized that beyond supply, the company will guide farmers on bird management to improve production performance, which he believes will directly increase farmer profitability. Professor Salim Abdurrahman Lawal, the Commissioner for Livestock Development, identified the high cost and inconsistent supply of day-old chicks as primary obstacles for regional poultry farmers. He explained that many chicks currently served to northern markets travel from production centers in southern Nigeria. These journeys span between 1,200 and 1,500 kilometers. According to Lawal, such extensive transit negatively impacts the condition of the chicks and delays their response to feeding. The new hatchery in Jigawa will drastically cut down internal transportation distances. No location within the state is expected to be more than approximately 150 kilometers from the facility. Lawal revealed that authorities plan to set up dedicated delivery facilities and engage young people in the distribution network for the day-old chicks. The state government has also signaled its intent to introduce a support scheme to aid this process. This hatchery deal is one of five partnerships being developed following Governor Namadi’s trip to India. The overarching goal of these initiatives is to attract investment, reinforce agricultural value chains, and generate employment opportunities for youth. The announcement was officially released via a statement by Hamisu Mohammed Gumel, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Namadi, on Friday. The project represents a shift toward localized production infrastructure intended to stabilize the poultry supply chain in the region.