The Kwara State Government has again reiterated its commitment to invest in livestock through regular release of funds, to further boost the State economy, with the aim of enhancing development project in the agricultural sector.
The Director of Livestock Services, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mallam Mohammad Ahmed Umar reiterated during a study tour of the Lata grazing reserve at Patigi Local Government Area of the State, by a combined team of the State Government and French’s BLR Consulting Company.
The French team is in the state to commence the study tour of Lata grazing reserve, with the purpose of having first hand information of the reserve area, to ensure a smooth take off of the project.
The Director assured Kwarans that the project when completed, would increase efforts at improving milk and meat productions, as well as livestock and marketing of the products.
Mallam Umar stated that, it would also improve the quality and quantity of animal feeds and water for rapid growth of the animals, as well as improve their health for a better output.
While speaking on the commercial component of the project, Umar explained that the project would lead to accelerated increase in revenue generation of the sector, create more jobs for rural dwellers, minimize herders and farmers conflicts and help to curb rural migration.
In his remarks, the French BLR Consulting Team Lead, Stephane Frisque disclosed that the team embarked on the study mission of the area, to have a basic knowledge of the place, in order to guide their decisions.
He added that the study tour also afforded his team the opportunity to interact with various stakeholders, especially the Fulani herders and locale, being the end users on the best approach to execute the project.
On his part, the Local Project Partner, Mr. Olawale Rotimi Opeyemi affirmed that Kwara State was the pioneer State to embark on this kind of study, which he said would give direction to other states, as a model to follow in developing their livestock industry.
Mr. Rotimi, who is also the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), JR Farm, assured the public that the project has the potential to stop the age long issues between the herders and farmers in the West Africa coast, that the project would make Kwara State a leader in finding solution to the problem.
He appreciated the State Government for the necessary support given to the project, BRL Company, and technical inputs of livestock officers in the Ministry of Agriculture and other relevant Ministries, and Agencies in the State.
It would be recalled that Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq had earlier signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), on strategic partnership with the French Government, represented by the Minister of State for Development, Francophonie and Internationale Partnerships, Dr. Chrysoula Zacharopoulou, on the development of Lata grazing reserve for large-scale livestock production.
Confidence Okwuchi
