Kwara Govt Trains 100 Extension Agents/Farmers On Animal Feeds, Meat Production

 

Not fewer than hundred extension agents and farmers in Kwara state have been trained on production of small ruminant and crop residue processing for improved utilization by ruminants.

The extension agents and farmers were drawn from the 16 local government areas of the state for the training programme towards improving food security situation in the state and Nigeria at large.

The programme was organized by the Kwara state government, through the State Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES) with support of the Centre for Dryland Agriculture (CDA) and the World Bank.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the programme, packaged by Synergy Impact consultants limited, the minister of state for Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, said that extension agents and farmers are very important in sensitization activities, adding that they would be carried along in the L-PRES programme.

Represented by the national project coordinator, L-PRES, Mallam Abubakar Sanusi, the minister said that about 70 per cent animal feasibility study is done through sensitization, describing it as key in ascertaining nature and needs of animals.

He advised extension agents to work closely with farmers to improve livestock productivity.

The minister, who said that Kwara state is one of the 20 states in which the programme was being run in the country, added that essence of the initiative was to improve productivity in animal production.

He also said that the programme was being executed in collaboration with research institutes in the country to improve pasture development.

Also speaking, the state commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Oloruntoyosi Thomas, said that the state government was targeting over 1,000 extension agents in the next two years, adding that the government planned to provide each local government with a motorcycle for effective operation.

She also commended roles of agriculture extension agents and farmers in the state towards improving agriculture productivity and food chain.

The commissioner, who said that the state government was committed to ensuring food security, added that the present administration in the state has deployed simple and practical steps to achieve food security in crop and livestock production.

“That’s what we’re focusing on. One of the activities of government that sets us apart is what we’re doing today. We’re passionate about developing our extension agents as we believe they can ensure food security. We’ve always invested in our extension agents and farmers”.

In his opening remarks, the State L-PRES Project Coordinator, Mr. Olusoji Oyawoye said the workshop is important to the present administration drive in ensuring food security in the country.

Mr. Oyawoye noted that the conflict between herders and farmers is due to insufficience feed and water for animals as well as expansion in crop farming activities in the country.

He further charged the participants at the training to learn, share ideas and network with other farmers and extension agents for a better livestock sector in the State.

Also speaking, the Principal Consultant, Synergy Impact Consultants Limited, Chief David Babalola said the training is to make the Extension Agents to sensitize the public on the importance of the Livestock Production and Resilience Support Project in the society.

Mr Babalola advised the participants not to keep the knowledge gained during the training but to spread it to boost the socio-economy of the state and country at large.

Speaking on behalf of other participants at the training programme, Mr. Oyeleke Raufu, commended organizers of the programme, explained that the training programme took them through rearing of small ruminants that produce meat with low cholesterol, animal feeds using farm wastes as well as meat production, among other agricultural value chains.

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