The Gombe State Government has joined the Federal Government’s delegation to Morocco for a renewed bilateral engagement aimed at strengthening agribusiness cooperation, boosting livestock production and enhancing veterinary innovation.
The visit, which held from Nov. 9 to 14, brought together senior officials from Nigeria’s Ministry of Livestock Development, the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (L-PRES) project, and selected states.
Gombe was represented by the Commissioner for Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Cooperatives, Dr. Barnabas Malle; the State Project Coordinator of Gombe L-PRES, Prof. Usman Bello Abubakar; and a representative of the Gombe State House of Assembly.
The delegation joined the Federal Government team led by the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, and the National Coordinator of L-PRES, Malam Sanusi Abubakar. They held strategic meetings, toured factories and participated in technical sessions with Morocco’s major agricultural institutions.
According to officials, the engagements focused on livestock export opportunities, agribusiness development models and veterinary systems that align with Gombe’s ongoing investments in modern livestock infrastructure and value-chain development.
The delegation also studied Morocco’s red-meat value chain, agricultural financing systems and integrated agribusiness clusters—areas relevant to Gombe’s Agro-Livestock Development Zone currently being established.
Members of the team visited the Kenitra Artificial Insemination Centre, integrated dairy farms and processing plants showcasing milk-to-meat value chains, as well as poultry farms and training institutes in Casablanca.
Discussions further covered food safety and export certification, meat-processing standards, irrigation technologies and veterinary innovations designed to improve productivity and disease control.
Gombe is expected to benefit from improved livestock genetics through access to advanced artificial insemination techniques that could enhance local breeds, increase dairy yields and improve meat quality. The partnership also supports the state’s ultramodern abattoir and international livestock market being developed by Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya.
Officials said the collaboration will help the facilities meet international certification requirements and improve readiness for regional and global export markets.
Gombe is also positioned to attract Moroccan agribusiness investments and technical expertise in water harvesting, small-scale irrigation and pasture development—key components of the state’s grazing reserves and livestock clusters.
A Joint Technical Working Group, with Gombe represented, has been established to drive follow-up actions and ensure the state benefits directly from forthcoming cooperation agreements. A formal Memorandum of Understanding is expected to be signed at the SIAM Agriculture Show in April 2026.
