Jigawa Moves to Build Northern Nigeria’s First Modern Poultry Hatchery

Jigawa State is advancing plans to establish Northern Nigeria’s first modern poultry hatchery, a project expected to improve access to day-old chicks, reduce supply challenges and strengthen the state’s poultry industry.

The initiative, backed by Governor Umar Namadi’s administration, targets a longstanding difficulty for poultry farmers across the region: obtaining quality chicks at affordable prices without the cost and risks associated with transporting them over long distances.

Currently, some chicks supplied to Northern Nigeria travel between 1,200 and 1,500 kilometres from production centres in the South. Such journeys can affect the birds’ condition and slow their response to feeding, creating additional difficulties for farmers during the early stages of production.

The proposed hatchery is expected to bring production closer to farms across Jigawa State. According to the state government, no location within the state is expected to be more than approximately 150 kilometres from the facility. Shorter delivery distances could improve the condition of chicks on arrival, ease transportation challenges and make supplies more accessible to poultry farmers.

Governor Namadi described the investment as part of his administration’s efforts to expand agricultural production, create economic opportunities and strengthen food security. He expressed confidence that the facility would benefit Jigawa and contribute to the development of poultry farming across Nigeria.

The project is also designed to support farmers beyond the supply of chicks. Plans include training, technical guidance and practical assistance to improve poultry management and production. By combining local access to chicks with better farming support, the initiative could help smallholder producers improve their operations and build more sustainable businesses.

The state government has further indicated plans to establish delivery facilities and involve young people in distributing chicks to farmers. A proposed support scheme is also intended to provide relief to poultry producers during production, although its reach and implementation will determine how much assistance farmers ultimately receive.

The project will be developed through a $10 million joint venture with India’s Srinivasa Farms Private Limited. 

With the planned hatchery, Jigawa is seeking to build local capacity around a critical part of poultry production. If delivered and operated effectively, the facility could help close a major supply gap, improve conditions for farmers and establish a stronger foundation for the state’s poultry industry.