The Katsina State Government has launched a new Goat Rearing Initiative aimed at boosting the economy and improving the livelihoods of citizens. The programme, officially launched on February 17, 2025, is designed to revive goat rearing using modern techniques to enhance livestock farming in the state.
Speaking at a press conference held at the Government House Press Center on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, Alhaji Yusuf Suleman Jibia, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Livestock and Grazing Reserves, stated that the programme consists of two major components aimed at transforming the livestock sector in the state.
The first component of the initiative focuses on supporting women by providing them with goats. In each of the 361 political wards in Katsina State, ten women will benefit by receiving four goats—three females and one male. Additionally, each woman will receive a starter pack, which includes a bag of wheat bran and a salt lick.
Furthermore, one large-scale farmer in each ward will be selected to receive 50 goats—10 males and 40 females—along with necessary support to enhance commercial goat farming.
To ensure the health of the goats, the government has established three quarantine centers in Dannakola, Ladanawa, and Kabomo, where the animals will undergo a minimum two-week health screening, vaccinations against Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), and deworming treatments before distribution to beneficiaries.
The second component involves establishing a large-scale goat breeding farm at Ladanawa Farm Service Center, where 3,000 female goats will be housed and subjected to artificial insemination using high-quality imported semen. This process aims to improve the genetic quality of goats in Katsina State.
Additionally, a 70-hectare pasture farm has been allocated to grow high-quality forage to sustain the animals at Ladanawa.
The programme will be managed by livestock specialists for one year, after which it will be handed over to the Department of Livestock and Grazing Reserves for further management and expansion.
The initiative has been allocated a budget of ₦5 billion, although Alhaji Yusuf Suleman Jibia clarified that the full amount may not necessarily be spent, as funds will be managed efficiently to ensure sustainability.
The Katsina State Government aims to enhance agriculture and livestock production, strengthen food security, and promote economic growth through this programme.
Alhaji Yusuf Suleman Jibia reaffirmed that the initiative will not only empower farmers and livestock keepers but also create jobs, boost trade, and revolutionize goat farming in the state.
The Katsina State Government is confident that this initiative will bring tremendous economic benefits to farmers and traders, positioning goat rearing as a key economic driver in the state.
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