Jigawa State Governor, Malam Umar Namadi has said livestock sector is accounting for almost 10% of the state’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

He stated this in his keynote address at the Opening of Stakeholders’ Consultative Workshop on Livestock Reforms in Collaboration with the Presidential Livestock Reforms Implementation Committee (PLRIC) held in Dutse, the state capital.

He said Livestock and Animal Husbandry was not just an economic activity in Jigawa State, but also a way of life for most families.

He noted that based on the immense potentials of this sector, it will help to drive economic growth, contribute to food & nutrition security, and improve the livelihoods of millions of our people in Jigawa State and across Nigeria as a whole.

According to him, “The sector is considered to be very critical and vital to the development of our State’s economy and the attainment of our vision of Greater Jigawa”.

Governor Namadi promised to work assiduously to ensure active support for livestock development through the implementation of the Jigawa Livestock Development Plan.

He explained that the development plan comprised programs such as the Jigawa Ruminant Livestock Intervention Programme, Jigawa Livestock Breed Improvement Programme, Jigawa Pasture Development Programme, Jigawa Dairy Development Programme, Protection of Grazing Reserves, and Revitalisation of Existing Livestock Improvement & Breeding Centres.

Technical Advisor on Agriculture to the Governor and Co-Chair Jigawa Livestock Reforms Implementation Committee (JLRIC), Dr. Saifullahi Umar said the state has a lot of livestock potentials.

He said the cattle population alone in the state represents an untapped asset worth over N4.3trillion and that if properly harnessed could generate over N650 billion annually in revenue for the local economy.

Earlier, the Co-Chair of the Presidential Livestock Reforms Implementation Committee (PLRIC), Professor Attahiru Jega Commended Jigawa State Government’s proactive approach in establishing a 17-member committee to drive reform.

Livestock accounts for Jigawa’s 10% GDP – Gov Namadi