By Abbas Nazil
The Jigawa State Government has signed a $10 million joint venture agreement with India’s Srinivasa Farms Private Limited to establish a modern hatchery aimed at improving poultry production, reducing the cost of day-old chicks and strengthening food security.
The proposed facility is expected to be the first modern hatchery of its kind in Northern Nigeria and will operate under a partnership in which Srinivasa Farms holds 60 per cent equity, while the state government owns the remaining 40 per cent.
Governor Umar Namadi, who presided over the signing ceremony, described the agreement as a major step in the state’s agricultural transformation agenda, expressing confidence that it would create new opportunities for poultry farmers and contribute to the Federal Government’s food security objectives.
He said the partnership followed engagements with the Indian company, including a visit to its facilities in India, where a state delegation observed its poultry operations and initiatives supporting smallholder farmers.
Namadi said the company’s approach to helping smallholder farmers establish sustainable businesses influenced the state’s decision to enter the partnership, adding that many poultry farmers in Jigawa had faced persistent challenges and financial losses.
He expressed optimism that the hatchery would help improve the performance of the state’s poultry industry and create a more supportive environment for farmers.
The agreement includes provisions for training, technical guidance and other forms of assistance to help smallholder poultry farmers improve production and business management.
Srinivasa Farms Vice President, Senthil Kumar Krishnan, said the partnership would focus on empowering rural communities and improving poultry production through access to quality chicks and technical services.
He explained that poultry farmers in Jigawa currently depend on day-old chicks transported from distant production centres, including Kaduna, with long journeys sometimes affecting the birds’ condition and quality upon arrival.
Krishnan said local production would reduce transportation challenges and enable farmers to obtain chicks when needed.
He added that the company would provide technical assistance to guide farmers on raising the birds, improving production results and increasing profitability.
The Commissioner for Livestock Development, Professor Salim Abdurrahman Lawal, said the investment would address persistent constraints in the poultry industry, particularly the high cost and unreliable supply of day-old chicks.
According to him, many chicks supplied to northern Nigeria are transported from production centres in southern parts of the country, covering distances estimated at between 1,200 and 1,500 kilometres.
Lawal said the long transportation period could affect the condition of the birds and delay their response to feeding.
He explained that establishing the hatchery in Jigawa would significantly shorten delivery distances, with no location in the state expected to be more than approximately 150 kilometres from the facility.
The commissioner also disclosed that plans were being developed to establish delivery facilities and involve young people in distributing day-old chicks, creating additional economic opportunities within the poultry value chain.
He added that the state government had indicated its commitment to introducing a support scheme to provide relief to farmers during production.
The agreement was signed on behalf of the Jigawa State Government by Lawal, while Krishnan signed for Srinivasa Farms Private Limited.
Namadi said the hatchery deal was one of five partnerships being pursued following his visit to India, as the state seeks to attract investment, strengthen agricultural value chains and expand opportunities for young people.
The project is expected to support local poultry production by improving access to chicks, strengthening farmers’ technical capacity and reducing logistical challenges associated with transporting birds over long distances.
