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A vendor attends to his livestocks waiting for buyers to celebrate Eid el Fitr in Lagos, on June 24, 2017. Muslims across the country are making last minute shopping to celebrate Eid el Fitr. Meanwhile the Nigerian government has declared a two-day public holidays from next week Monday, for the Eid celebrations. / AFP PHOTO / PIUS UTOMI EKPEI
Not fewer than 100 livestock smallholder farmers have benefitted from the first phase of the goats empowerment programme donated by major stakeholders in the livestock sector.
The Commissioner for Livestock Development, Mrs Oloruntoyosi Thomas, performing the distribution exercise at the state coordination office of the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project in Ilorin, on Thursday, said the programme was part of the government’s strategy to grow the livestock sector.
Thomas, who is the pioneer commissioner for the newly created ministry, pointed out that the capacity-building training organised by the Kwara L-PRES Project had yielded positive results.
He added that Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq was not only after the training but wanted everybody to have financial freedom, to improve their livelihood and the economic status of the state.
She said the beneficiaries, who are members of the “Agbeloba Omodara” cluster farming group, deserved the gesture due to their contributions in stepping down the knowledge gained during the intensive training programmes to other people at the grassroots.
While congratulating the beneficiaries, the commissioner reiterated the government’s commitment to supporting every livestock farmer in achieving their goals and transforming the livestock sector of the state.
Earlier, the State Project Coordinator, Mr Olusoji Oyawoye, said the small ruminant animals were donated by individuals in the state to encourage group members and support their livestock business.
Oyawoye described livestock as a stock of wealth that could be disposed of in time of emergency, adding that the beneficiaries had been taught how to integrate crop farming and livestock farming to reduce the cost of feeding the animals and maximise their profits.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, the Chairman of the “Agbeloba Omodara” Cooperative Farming Group, Mallam Shuaib Ajibola, assured the government and donor agencies of proper monitoring to ensure that the animals were well taken care of.
Also, the commissioner inspected the ongoing livestock projects in the Akerebiata abattoir in Ilorin East Local Government Area of the state.
The facilities inspected included the newly constructed 60 tonnes solar-powered cold storage facility for storing livestock products in the market, the slaughter slab section, and water facilities, among others.
The commissioner and her team were also conducted round the market by the management and the executive members of the Kwara State Butchers Union.
