About 1, 364, 612 livestock (cows, goats and sheep) were vaccinated during the 2021 livestock vaccination campaign conducted in Kano state by the Kano State Agro-Pastoral Development Project.
The vaccination, which gulped over N80 million, was conducted with funds provided by the Islamic Development Bank, the Lives and Livelihoods Funds and the Islamic Solidarity Fund for Development. The provision of funds took into account the importance of the livestock sector as a backbone of the food system and a contributor to food security, poverty alleviation and agricultural development in Nigeria.
The vaccination also aims to address public health concerns arising from consumption of products originating from livestock.
The State Project Coordinator, KSADP, Malam Ibrahim Garba Muhammad announced this during the opening of a one-day workshop and presentation of empowerment packages to beneficiaries of a cattle fattening empowerment scheme, jointly organized by the Kano State Agro-Pastoral Development Project, the Nigerian Institute of Animal Science and Promex Multi-Services Nigeria Ltd.
“The KSADP also intended to invest substantially in several livestock development interventions including construction of a Livestock reference laboratory, annual livestock vaccination, commercial large scale fodder production, engagement of animal health workers, empowerment of livestock fatteners, construction of milk collection centers and mitigation of farmers-herdsmen conflict, designed to create huge economic and food security impact in the state,” he said
Meat production and food security
Regarding the collaboration with the Nigerian Institute of Animal Science and Promex Multi-Services Nigeria Ltd., the State Project Coordinator said the programme which was basically smallholder, was targeted at youth, to enable them get more involved in meat production and food security.
Malam Ibrahim observed that the collaboration was beyond training of youth as through KSADP, the government of Kano state had allocated 10 hectares of land to the institute, at Kadawa, to serve as demonstration plot for fodder production, adding that development of the land had began in earnest.
On behalf of the Nigerian Institute of Animal Science and Promex Multi-Services Nigeria Ltd., Mr. Abiola Fola-Bolumole, said the partnership was a major milestone, explaining that each of the 14 youth involved would take home a cow and an empowerment package for feed.
While stressing the importance of investing in livestock fattening providing food, job creating and poverty reduction, he urged beneficiaries of the workshop and livestock fattening scheme to make good use of the knowledge they will gain.
One of the beneficiaries, Ibrahim Musa Atamu, expressed appreciation to KSADP, Nigerian Institute of Animal Science and Promex Multi-Services Nigeria Ltd. for finding them worthy of participation in the programme, saying it would help them to be self reliant.
Emmanuel Ukoh
