Kano Seeks Genetic Improvement of Local Cattle Breeds to Boost Productivity

To boost the genetic improvement of local cattle breeds the Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has commissioned the renovated and equipped Kadawa Animal Insemination (AI) Centre and other projects costing over N103 million.

According to Ganduje, the project will increase productivity, improve herdsmen’s income, and mitigate the nutrition challenges in the country.

Remarking at the event, the governor said his administration was promoting AI as part of a deliberate move to change herdsmanship from a socio-cultural activity to a socio-economic venture, in line with the prevailing realities across the globe.

He said, “We are immensely grateful to the Islamic Development Bank and the Lives and Livelihood Funds, LLF, not only for this AI Centre but for many other projects across the state, in which they invested resources, to address the challenges of poverty, food security and unemployment facing our people.”

Speaking, the Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria, Dr Olaniyan Alabi, lauded the state government for its commitment and love for the livestock sub-sector, saying the development was in line with the Federal Government’s drive to transform the sector for enhanced productivity and improved livelihoods of the value chain actors.

On his part, the State Project Coordinator of the Kano State Agro-Pastoral Development Project (KSADP), Malam Ibrahim Garba Muhammad, said the project revived the AI Centre as part of its wide-scale initiatives to deepen agro-pastoral productivity and production enhancement.

He highlighted the wide-scale initiatives to include breed improvement, livestock productivity and production enhancement, commercial fodder production, crop residue utilisation from emerging sources, the establishment of fodder banks, improving animal health services, upgrading of 20 slaughterhouses and establishment of 200 milk collection centres.

The project also replenished the AI centre with five exotic bulls worth N9. 2 million to inseminate at least 25,000 cows annually.

source Agro Nigeria: