MINISTER SEEKS N-HYPPADEC PARTNERSHIP TO BOOST LIVESTOCK PRODUCTIVITY
By Hajara Muhammad Sambo
The Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, has called for stronger collaboration between the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development and the National Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (N-HYPPADEC) to improve livestock productivity and livelihoods in rural communities.
Mukhtar, made the call during a visit to N-HYPPADEC in Minna, Niger State, where he was accompanied by the National Project Coordinator of the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES) Dr Sanusi Abubakar.
The Minister said the Federal Government was working with state governments to establish livestock development centres across the country as part of efforts to strengthen the livestock sector.
He explained that state governments would be expected to provide suitable land and identify livestock value chains with development potential, while the projects would be implemented through partnerships involving the federal and state governments as well as the private sector.
«“We are working with the state governments to establish livestock development centres, with the states expected to provide suitable land and identify the livestock value chains that can be developed.”»
Mukhtar said N-HYPPADEC’s extensive presence in rural communities offered an opportunity for the Ministry to leverage the Commission’s existing structures and interventions to deepen livestock development at the grassroots.
He particularly identified N-HYPPADEC’s interventions in water provision, youth and women empowerment, infrastructure and livelihood support as areas that could complement the Ministry’s livestock development initiatives.
«“N-HYPPADEC’s presence in rural communities provides opportunities for stronger synergy with the Ministry in promoting livestock productivity and improving livelihoods.”»
The Minister said the collaboration would help create a more integrated approach to livestock development, particularly in communities where N-HYPPADEC already has established platforms and ongoing interventions.
Responding, the Managing Director of N-HYPPADEC, Abubakar Sadiq Yelwa, said livestock development was a strategic area of convergence between the Commission and the Ministry.
Yelwa said N-HYPPADEC had already commenced interventions in poultry production, animal fattening and small-ruminant rearing through its Youth Transformation Programme, alongside training and advocacy for women in agriculture.
«“Livestock production is an important component of rural livelihoods within our operational areas.”»
He said the Commission was seeking a structured partnership with the Ministry that would complement its policy and technical leadership with N-HYPPADEC’s grassroots presence, community platforms, infrastructure interventions and implementation capacity.
Yelwa identified pasture and fodder development, feed production and technical support, access to affordable financing, women and youth empowerment and modern community abattoirs as some of the areas where both institutions could collaborate.
He proposed the selection of some N-HYPPADEC communities for pilot livestock interventions, with successful initiatives to be scaled up across the Commission’s ten member states.
N-HYPPADEC currently operates across ten states, including Niger, covering more than 100 Local Government Areas and thousands of communities, with its mandate focused on improving the socio-economic wellbeing of communities affected by hydroelectric power activities.
The proposed partnership is expected to strengthen livestock production while expanding opportunities for food security, income generation, employment and economic empowerment among rural communities.
