The Jigawa State Government, under Governor Umar Namadi, is translating federal livestock reforms into tangible action through strategic partnerships aligned with the state’s Agricultural Transformation Policy.
A key development is the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Jigawa State and El‑Meena Farms Ltd, which launched the Jigawa Alfalfa Value Chain Development Initiative. The initiative aims to scale from a 1,000-hectare pilot to a 100,000-hectare mega-estate, producing 2 million metric tonnes of alfalfa annually and creating over 100,000 jobs, positioning Jigawa as a hub for livestock feed production and agro-exports in Nigeria and West Africa.
To ensure the project is informed by global best practices, Governor Namadi recently led a delegation of public and private stakeholders on a technical and investment mission to Córdoba Province, Argentina. Argentina, the world’s second-largest alfalfa producer, is recognised for research-driven agriculture, mechanisation, smart irrigation, and agro-industrial development, with Córdoba as its largest production hub.
The Nigerian delegation included officials from the Jigawa Government, El-Meena Farms Ltd, the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM), Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI), Jaiz Bank, Saudi Arabia’s Alkhorayef Group, Cape Mano Agriculture, and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).
During the visit, the delegation toured major forage processing and livestock nutrition facilities, gaining practical insights into large-scale alfalfa production, feed processing, livestock nutrition systems, and export logistics. They also held discussions with the Governor of Córdoba Province, culminating in the signing of an MoU formalising cooperation in sustainable livestock development, irrigation innovation, applied research, and agro-industrial value chains.
Facilitated by NITDA through its Regional Digital Innovation and Investment Programme (RegDIIP), the engagement showcased how technology, applied research, and international partnerships can create competitive advantages for regional agriculture. Insights from NITDA and MIT’s Regional Entrepreneurship Acceleration Programme (MIT-REAP) highlighted alfalfa’s potential to enhance livestock productivity, reduce feed shortages, ease farmer–herder tensions, and support export-driven growth.
The Jigawa-El‑Meena MoU, signed in December 2025, targets 100,000 hectares of premium alfalfa with projected annual export revenues of $440–540 million. Alkhorayef Group will provide technical support for centre-pivot irrigation infrastructure. Governor Namadi described the project as a cornerstone of his economic agenda and a strategic link between Nigeria and the Middle East.
“By combining Jigawa’s vast land resources with El-Meena’s operational expertise and Saudi Arabia’s advanced irrigation technology, we are building a secure, high-value export corridor aligned with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda,” he said.
The scheme is structured around an export-financing window involving NEXIM Bank and the Saudi EXIM Bank, with an initial $5 million allocated for irrigation systems during the 1,000-hectare pilot phase.
