Uba Sani Launches Livestock Intervention to Boost Agricultural Productivity
The Governor of Kaduna State, Uba Sani, has launched the distribution of livestock intervention packages to 5,000 farmer cooperatives as part of efforts to strengthen agricultural productivity and position the state as the agricultural and livestock hub of northern Nigeria.
The governor made the remarks on Thursday during the official flag-off of the distribution programme. He said the initiative aligns with his administration’s vision of transforming the state into a centre for agricultural innovation, productivity and inclusive economic growth.
Represented at the event by the Deputy Governor, Hadiza Balarabe, Sani said the government remains committed to building a state capable of feeding its population, supporting national food supply and expanding agricultural exports.
According to him, Kaduna aims to emerge as a key driver of Nigeria’s agricultural development through strategic investments in the livestock sector and broader agricultural value chains.
Items distributed during the programme included 500 solar-powered freezers equipped with panels, inverters and batteries, 300 feed millers, 3,000 bags of poultry feed and 200,000 day-old chicks. The materials were allocated to organised farmer cooperatives spread across the state’s 23 local government areas.
Sani explained that the intervention would directly benefit 5,000 farmers organised into cooperatives of ten members each, adding that the initiative is expected to improve productivity, reduce post-harvest losses and create additional income opportunities, particularly for women and young people involved in livestock production.
The governor also highlighted earlier achievements of his administration in livestock development, including the rehabilitation of abattoirs and slaughter facilities, the construction of veterinary clinics and boreholes in pastoral communities, and the deployment of mobile veterinary teams to provide animal healthcare.
He noted that vaccination campaigns conducted by the state government have covered more than 850,000 cattle, 250,000 sheep and goats, 250,000 poultry and 5,000 dogs to protect livestock from cross-border diseases and safeguard public health.
Sani further disclosed that the government had previously distributed 100 residue crushers and 50 fodder choppers to cooperatives and pastoralist groups to convert crop residues into animal feed.
Other initiatives implemented by the state include the establishment of demonstration pasture fields and the distribution of mineral licks, molasses and feed supplements aimed at improving livestock nutrition and weight gain.
The governor added that pastoral settlements have also benefited from solar-powered boreholes with livestock drinking troughs, which provide reliable water sources and reduce seasonal migration pressures among herders.
He said additional support had been provided to dairy farmers through the distribution of milking cans and tricycles to facilitate the transportation of milk to collection centres, helping to improve product quality and reduce post-harvest losses.
Sani noted that the livestock programmes complement broader agricultural reforms under his administration, including the Tallafin Noma (A Koma Gona) initiative, which has supported about 69,000 crop farmers with seeds, fertiliser and mechanisation tools.
He also cited the state’s dry and wet season agricultural empowerment programmes, which provide solar-powered irrigation pumps and farm inputs to enable year-round cultivation for nearly one million smallholder farmers.
The governor said the government is also investing in rural road construction to improve farm-to-market access, reduce transportation costs and minimise post-harvest losses.
According to him, Kaduna is laying the groundwork for large-scale agricultural processing and export through initiatives such as the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone and the Agricultural Quality Assurance Centre.
