NAPRI Targets 25,000 Chicks in 2025/2026 Hatching Drive

By Musa Garba, Kaduna

The National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, has launched its 2025/2026 annual chick production programme, setting its sights on producing about 25,000 chicks to strengthen poultry breeding and support Nigeria’s livestock sector.

This was disclosed in a statement issued in Zaria by the university’s Director of Public Affairs, Malam Auwalu Umar, who said the exercise officially commenced on March 31 and has already yielded over 3,000 chicks in its opening phase.

He explained that the newly hatched birds consist of Shikabrown grandparent stock and broiler foundation stock, which will largely serve as replacement birds for the institute’s breeding population.

According to him, the institute’s new production goal represents a significant jump from the 17,000 chicks recorded in the last hatching cycle, underscoring NAPRI’s effort to scale up output and respond to increasing demand in the poultry industry.

Umar further stated that the programme is aimed at strengthening hatchery operations nationwide through the provision of improved parent stock layers as well as Shikabrown pullet commercial layers, which are expected to benefit both commercial poultry operators and small-scale farmers.

During an inspection visit to the poultry brooding unit in Shika, Zaria, the Acting Executive Director of NAPRI, Prof. Muhammad-Rabiu Hassan, expressed satisfaction with the progress made so far, describing the exercise as smooth and encouraging.

He said the institute remained on course to achieve its target and praised the support received from the Minister of Livestock Development, Mukhtar Maiha, and the Vice-Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Prof. Adamu Ahmed, for their roles in advancing the programme.

The annual hatching exercise is regarded as one of NAPRI’s key contributions to poultry improvement in Nigeria, especially in the development and supply of quality breeding stock to farmers and hatcheries across the country.

Agriculture partnership: Gov. Yahaya to get Sasakawa’s Special Award

By Peter Osagie, Gombe

Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State will be honoured with a Special Recognition Award by the Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) Nigeria, in acknowledgement of the state’s sustained partnership and strategic commitment to agricultural development.

The award will be presented at the 2026 SAA Nigeria Annual Stakeholders Workshop on Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Abuja, where top federal officials, development partners, diplomats, and state governments are expected to gather to discuss pathways for strengthening Nigeria’s food systems.

The workshop, held at Rockview Royale Hotel, Wuse II, is themed “SAA @ 40: Deepening Impact and Expanding Reach at Scale”.

The recognition of Governor Inuwa Yahaya reflects the depth of Gombe State’s collaboration with SAA over the years, which has supported agricultural extension, smallholder productivity, and rural livelihoods.

Since its creation in 1996, Gombe State has maintained a working relationship with SAA, funded by the Nippon Foundation, to implement initiatives that improve food security, nutrition, climate resilience, and inclusive agricultural services, with particular attention to women, youth, and resource-poor farmers.

Speaking ahead of the workshop, Dr. Godwin Atser, Country Director of SAA Nigeria, said:

“This recognition celebrates a partnership backed by action. Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s leadership reflects the kind of subnational commitment essential for transforming agriculture in Nigeria.

Gombe State’s sustained support for farmer-focused interventions demonstrates what can be achieved when political will, institutional alignment, and practical investment converge.”

SAA Nigeria’s collaboration with Gombe State encompasses a wide range of interventions, including Farmer Learning Platforms (FLP), Community Savings and Investment in Agriculture (CSIA), Private Extension Service Provision (PESP), and Community-Based Seed Multiplication (CBSM), among others. Together, these initiatives strengthen the agricultural ecosystem from production to post-harvest, improve access to technology, knowledge, and markets, and enhance the capacities of farmers and rural actors.

The partnership also encourages pluralistic extension systems, involving the private sector, farmer organisations, research institutions, and civil society in scaling agricultural services across the state. This multi-dimensional cooperation underscores why Gombe State’s collaboration is deserving of recognition.

As SAA marks 40 years of operations in Africa and 33 years in Nigeria, the organisation notes that sustainable agricultural transformation requires long-term commitment, collaboration, and strategic investment, qualities exemplified by Gombe State and Governor Inuwa Yahaya.

The recognition will be part of a broader conversation at the 2026 Annual Stakeholders Workshop, which will review SAA’s 2021–2025 achievements, share lessons, and explore future partnerships to strengthen agriculture in Nigeria and across Africa.

About Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA)

The Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) was established in 1986 by Japanese philanthropist Ryoichi Sasakawa, Nobel Laureate Dr Norman Borlaug, and former U.S. President Jimmy Carter.

Dedicated to improving the productivity, profitability, and resilience of smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa, SAA operates through agricultural extension, capacity building, and systems strengthening. Active in Nigeria since 1993, SAA collaborates with governments, research institutions, universities, private sector actors, and development partners to advance farmer-centred agricultural transformation.

2026 Rainfall Outlook Critical for Farmers’ Success, Says Bauchi Agric Agency

The Bauchi State Agricultural Development Programme (BSADP) has emphasised that the Seasonal Climate Prediction remains an indispensable guide for farmers, offering early insights into expected weather conditions and rainfall trends.

The Programme Manager, Mr Ya’u Muhammad, disclosed this during a media chat in Bauchi on Monday, explaining that accurate climate forecasts play a decisive role in determining farm productivity.

According to him, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) is responsible for issuing yearly seasonal outlooks that inform farmers about the likely timing of rainfall commencement and cessation, its spread, sunshine levels, and possible threats such as flooding, drought, pest invasions, and disease outbreaks.

“We held detailed consultations at the national level and obtained critical data that will soon be transmitted to farmers throughout Bauchi State,” Muhammad stated.

He further explained that a recent stakeholders’ meeting served as a major avenue for collaboration between the agency and agricultural professionals. The forum featured experts from the Institute of Agricultural Research, Lake Chad Research Institute, and Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University.

Muhammad assured that the technical forecast would be translated into simple language, especially Hausa, to enable rural farmers to easily grasp and apply the information.

Describing the 2026 outlook as highly significant, he urged farmers to comply strictly with the recommendations in order to maximise harvests.

He also pledged that BSADP would support farmers with improved, climate-smart and disease-tolerant seed varieties, along with timely advisories and early warnings for areas vulnerable to floods or prolonged dry spells.

To guarantee broad awareness, Muhammad said the programme would leverage radio, television, and digital platforms to circulate the information widely, with the overarching aim of boosting food production and enhancing food security across the state.