Nigerian Government supports Taraba State livestock farmers with pasture seeds

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on Saturday distributed relief materials to no fewer than 300 livestock farmers affected by flood in Taraba state in 2022.

Mrs Winnie Lai-Solarin, Director, Department of Animal Husbandry Services in the ministry, flagged- off the exercise in Jalingo.

Lai-Solarin said that the federal government was mindful of the role of livestock farmers in the sustenance of the food security value chain in the country.

She listed the items provided for the affected farmers to include 600 bags of livestock pasture seeds for growing of improved grass and 600 bags of nutrition cake, and salt lick with the aim of boosting the quality and quantity of beef and diary products from their farms.

According to her, with the concentration and encouragement of improved grass and production of proteinous cake for the animals, the ministry aimed at reducing the age-long conflicts between livestock and crop farmers to the barest minimum.

“Gamba grass and andropogon seeds are simple to grow and good food supplement for animals that would, over time, reduce the frequency of movement of livestock from one area to another in search of pasture,” she said.

The director reassured the farmers that government would continue to render support to them to continue to play their roles in the food security value chain.

In his remarks, Mr Sale Pavali, the Permanent Secretary Taraba Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, recalled that Taraba state was among states that experienced heavy flooding, which destroyed crops and various categories livestock across the state.

He appreciated the intervention of the federal government and said that the State’s ministry of Agriculture and Food Security was considering an enhanced partnership with the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project to improve the its livestock sector.

Hajiya Aishatu Ardo, a beneficiary of the exercise, who spoke on behalf of the farmers, appreciated the Federal Ministry of Agriculture for the intervention and assured that the support would be properly utilised to improve the quality of livestock in their farms.

Ardo, who is the State Chairman of the Fulbe Development and Cultural Organization (FUDECO) observed that with the government attention to the livestock sector, farmers would do well in improving their daily supplies of beef and diary products for the Nigerian markets.

NAN / Foluke Ibitomi