Food security: Kwara govt trains farmers, extention agents on animal feed, meat production
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 has disclosed that no fewer than 100 extension agents and farmers in the state have been trained in the production of small ruminant and crop residue processing for improved utilization by ruminants.
According to reports, the extension agents and farmers were drawn from the 16 Local Government Areas of the state for the training programme, which is geared towards improving food security situations in the state and Nigeria at large.
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 disclosed that extension agents and farmers were very important in sensitization activities, pointing out 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% of animal feasibility studies were done through sensitization, describing the process as an important ingredient in ascertaining nature and needs of animals, while urging the extension agents to work closely with the 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 the essence of the initiative was to improve productivity in animal production, also disclosed 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, Mrs. Oloruntoyosi Thomas explained that the state government was targeting over 1,000 extension agents in the next two years, pointing out that it planned to provide each local government with a motorcycle for effective operations.
She commended the roles of the agriculture extension agents and farmers in the state towards improving agricultural productivity and food chains.
According to her, the state government is committed to ensuring food security, adding that the present administration has deployed simple and practical steps to achieve food security in crops and livestock production.
“That is what we are focusing on. One of the activities of government that sets us apart is what we are doing today. We are passionate about developing our extension agents as we believe they can ensure food security. We have always invested in our extension agents and farmers”, the Commissioner stated further.
In his opening remarks, the State L-PRES Project Coordinator, Mr. Olusoji Oyawoye said the workshop is important to the present administration’s drive at ensuring food security in the country.
Mr. Oyawoye noted that the conflict between herders and farmers was due to insufficient feeds and water for animals as well as expansion in crops 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 sensitize the public on the importance of the L-PRES Project in the society.
Mr. Babalola advised the participants not to keep the knowledge gained at the training to themselves alone, but spread it to boost the socio-economy of the state and the country at large.
Responding on behalf of the participants, Mr. Oyeleke Raufu who commended the organisers of the programme, explained that the training 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.
Major highlights of the event included the presentation of certificates of attendance to the participants and the inspection of the exhibited animals feeds at the venue.
