Jigawa State Government has launched an ambitious ?7 billion dairy development programme that will introduce improved cattle breeds from the United Kingdom and India through artificial insemination as part of efforts to diversify the state’s economy and transform livestock production.
Commissioner for Livestock Development, Prof. Abdulrahman Salim Lawal, disclosed this at a one-day sensitisation workshop on artificial insemination and dairy production for Fulani leaders drawn from the 27 local government areas of the state.
He said the programme, initiated by Governor Malam Umar Namadi, would commence with the artificial insemination of 6,500 cattle using improved breeds from the United Kingdom and India before expanding to cover 25,000 cattle, with a target of producing over 60,000 genetically improved cattle.
According to the commissioner, the initiative aims to increase milk production, improve the quality of indigenous cattle breeds, create jobs, and position Jigawa as a major dairy-producing state in Nigeria.
Lawal disclosed that the government had already committed ?3.3 billion to the dairy programme. At the same time, another ?4.5 billion would be invested in restoring and developing grazing reserves, bringing the total investment to over ?7 billion.
He explained that the state plans to reclaim and rehabilitate its 362 gazetted grazing reserves by planting high-yield pasture grasses and legumes to support modern livestock production.
The commissioner said the programme was inspired by successful dairy development models in countries such as India, where improved cattle breeds produce significantly higher milk yields than local breeds.
‘We are changing the narrative from quantity to quality. Instead of keeping large numbers of low-yield cattle, our focus is on fewer but highly productive breeds capable of meeting Nigeria’s growing dairy needs,’ he said.
To ensure sustainability, Lawal said 13 scientists from Jigawa would travel to India next month for specialised training at the National Dairy Development Board on artificial insemination and dairy management.
He added that the experts, on their return, would train 350 youths recently recruited by the state government as artificial insemination technicians to drive the programme across the state.
The commissioner expressed optimism that the initiative would not only improve pastoral livelihoods but also reduce conflicts associated with open grazing by encouraging settled and more productive livestock management.
Also speaking, the Managing Director of Ferrado Agro and Bioforms, Mr. Chendu, said the company was partnering with the state government to implement the one-year programme through baseline surveys, digital documentation, animal identification and farmer tracking.
He explained that the intervention is expected to increase the average daily milk yield per cow from about one litre to between eight and 15 litres, thereby improving farmers’ incomes, creating employment opportunities for youths and women, strengthening food security and reducing Nigeria’s dependence on imported dairy products.
Experts at the workshop described the initiative as a major step toward modernising livestock production and building a sustainable dairy industry capable of contributing significantly to Nigeria’s agricultural and economic diversification agenda.