The Jigawa State Government is exploring a strategic partnership with India’s National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) to boost livestock development and expand dairy production across the state.
Governor Umar Namadi disclosed this while receiving a high-level delegation from the NDDB, led by Rajesh O. Gupta, during a courtesy visit to the Government House in Dutse.
The visit follows the governor’s earlier engagement with dairy institutions in India during an official trip last year, where discussions began on potential collaboration to transform Jigawa’s livestock sector.
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Welcoming the delegation, Governor Namadi described the visit as a significant step toward strengthening agricultural development in the state.
He explained that the engagement with NDDB forms part of the government’s broader plan to reposition the livestock sector and improve the livelihoods of farmers and pastoral communities.
The Governor noted that the climatic similarities between India and Nigeria provide an opportunity for Jigawa to adopt some of India’s successful dairy development models.
According to him, India’s cooperative-based dairy system has helped transform the country into the world’s largest milk producer, and Jigawa is keen to replicate similar strategies to boost local production.
Namadi also stressed the need to enhance livestock genetics through cross-breeding and artificial insemination, noting that such interventions could significantly increase milk yield from local cattle.
He assured the NDDB team of the state government’s commitment to knowledge transfer and capacity building for local scientists and extension workers to support reforms in the dairy sector.
The Governor added that the state is ready to send scientists to India for training, emphasizing that strengthening technical expertise will be key to achieving sustainable dairy development.
He also said the state government expects a comprehensive proposal from the NDDB to guide the next phase of the partnership and expressed optimism that implementation would commence once the proposal is received.
Earlier, the leader of the NDDB delegation, Rajesh O. Gupta, commended the Jigawa State Government for the opportunity to assess the state’s livestock ecosystem.
He said the team’s two-day field visits provided valuable insights into existing livestock practices and opportunities for developing the dairy sector.
Gupta explained that India’s success in dairy production was achieved through sustained interventions across the value chain, including animal breeding, farmer organization, processing, and the application of modern technology.
He noted that India currently produces about 247 million metric tons of milk annually, making it the largest milk producer in the world.
The NDDB delegation also expressed readiness to support Jigawa State through technical cooperation, capacity development for scientists and extension workers, and the establishment of pilot dairy projects that could serve as models for wider expansion across the state.