Kwara speaker pledges legislative support for livestock to address unemployment
Rt. Hon. Yakubu Solihu-Danladi, the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, has promised to continue prioritising all legislations geared towards promoting livestock development for improved production of food and nutrition in the State.
Hon. Danladi made this known at the closing ceremony of the training for “batch10” of 1000 extension agents and livestock farmers on small ruminants production and crop residue processing for improved utilisation by ruminants.
The programme, organised by the Kwara State Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES) in partnership with the Centre for Dryland Agriculture (CDA) Bayero University (BUK) Kano and packaged by the Synergy Impact Consultant Limited, was held at the National Centre for Agricultural Mechanisation (NCAM) in Idofian, Kwara State.
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Engr. Solihu-Danladi, who was represented by the Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, Hon. Saba Yisa Gideon, said the impact of the training would go a long way to improve the economy through the creation of job opportunities for youths and women in the sector.
The Speaker pointed out that agriculture is the only viable sector with the potential to employ over 90 per cent of the population. He then encouraged the youths to venture into integrated farming, especially producing small ruminants, to banish poverty and hunger and improve the country’s food security.
While commending the impact of the L-PRES Project in the State’s livestock sector, he urged the State government and other partners to increase their support for the successproject’s successieve the renewed hope agenda of the present government on food security.
Also speaking, the State Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs Oloruntoyosi Thomas, described livestock production as one of the key components of agriculture that are driving the food security of the country and charged the participants to ensure that the knowledge gained during the five- days intensive training is spread to other farmers at the grassroot.
Mrs Thomas, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs Funke Sokoya, thanked the State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, for the financial and technical support in implementing the activities of L-PRES.
In his remarks, the State Project Coordinator, Mr. Olusoji Oyawoye, disclosed that the completion of the 10th batch of the training has brought the total number of the participants to one thousand beneficiaries.
He appreciated the World Bank and the L-PRES National Coordination Office for the support and privilege accorded to Kwara on the smooth implementation of the project.
The lead facilitator, Dr. Akeem Ajeigbe, had earlier advised the participants to effectively utilise the knowledge and skills acquired during the training programme to enhance livestock productivity, improve resilience, and promote sustainable agricultural practices in their communities.
