Story Ibrahim musa kallah 

The Katsina State Government has reiterated its commitment to advancing modern livestock farming across the state.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Livestock, Suleiman Jibia, disclosed this while receiving members of the Association of Cattle and Market Dealers in his office.

According to him, the livestock department, in collaboration with the Katsina State Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (KATARDA), is currently training extension workers across the three senatorial zones. The program is designed to promote modern livestock practices among herders and farmers.

Jibia further revealed that the government has rehabilitated a grazing reserve to accommodate Fulani herders. The facility includes veterinary services and improved pasture for livestock feeding, aimed at reducing the movement of herders from one location to another — a major cause of farmer-herder conflicts in the past. He explained that the initiative, which was started by the previous administration, is being sustained by the current government to ensure peaceful coexistence.

He also disclosed that the government has distributed 40,000 goats across the 361 wards of the state. This initiative, he said, is meant to position Katsina as one of the leading goat markets in the world

, Suleiman Jibia said: “There will be sufficient milk from both cows and goats. The government also plans to introduce foreign goat breeds to improve productivity. This will make Katsina a hub where people from within and outside the country can come to buy high-quality livestock.”

He noted that Governor Dikko Umar Radda recently held discussions with a company in Saudi Arabia on possible trade partnerships that would allow the export of meat and other livestock products from Katsina State. He added that the government also plans to construct new abattoirs and upgrade existing ones to boost meat production and supply.

On his part, the Chairman of the Association of Cattle and Market Dealers, Alhaji Bala, commended the government’s efforts to modernize livestock farming in the state. He assured that the association is fully prepared to support government policies and initiatives aimed at developing the sector.

Alhaji Bala, however, presented some concerns from the association to the Special Adviser. In response, Suleiman Jibia assured the delegation that the government is already working to address their challenges in order to ensure smooth operations and mutual progress in the livestock sector.

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