Vice President Kashim Shettima has identified the large-scale Premium Alfalfa Project being developed by Jigawa El-Meena Farms (JEFs) as a potential long-term solution to Nigeria’s lingering farmers-herders conflict, saying the initiative could transform livestock production while promoting peace, food security and economic growth.

Shettima made the remark during his visit to the JEFs exhibition stand at the inaugural J-Invest 2026 Summit in Dutse, where the project was unveiled as one of the state’s flagship agribusiness investment opportunities.

Expressing optimism about the initiative, the Vice President said, “With the Jigawa El-Meena Farms’ large-scale production of premium alfalfa, the farmers-herders crisis could become a thing of the past.”

His endorsement highlights growing support for industrial-scale forage production as a sustainable alternative to open grazing. Experts believe a reliable supply of high-quality livestock feed, such as premium alfalfa, would encourage ranching and feedlot systems, improve animal productivity, and significantly reduce the competition for land and water that often fuels violent clashes between farmers and herders.

The JEFs project is designed to establish an integrated premium alfalfa value chain that will serve Nigeria’s dairy and livestock industries while positioning Jigawa State as a leading regional hub for forage production and export.

The project featured prominently at the maiden J-Invest Summit, which attracted Vice President Shettima, top government officials, investors, development partners, and business leaders seeking opportunities across agriculture, manufacturing, renewable energy, and small- and medium-scale enterprises.

Addressing participants at the summit, the Vice President reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to improving the investment climate and supporting projects capable of boosting food security, creating jobs, attracting private capital and accelerating national economic development.

For the Jigawa State Government, the JEFs Premium Alfalfa Project represents a strategic investment aligned with its vision of transforming the state Into Nigeria’s foremost agribusiness investment destination by leveraging its vast agricultural potential for export-led growth and shared prosperity.

As one of the summit’s most prominent investment showcases, the project demonstrated how innovation, climate-smart agriculture and private-sector investment can modernise Nigeria’s livestock industry while contributing to sustainable economic development and lasting national stability. (The Nation)

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