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No fewer than a hundred livestock farmers in Osun State, Southwest Nigeria have been empowered with two thousand chicks each, in addition to vaccines feed-mills and drugs.
The distribution of chicks and consumables is part of government efforts to reposition agriculture, ensure food security and empower young farmers.
Flagging off the distribution exercise at Ede, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr Dayo Adewole said the first phase of the exercise is to enhancing farmers’ production capacity.
“The initiative anchored under the Osun Broilers Outgrowers Production Scheme III is to eliminate poverty and enhance production capacity of livestock farmers in the state.
“It is also designed to support youth and women who are engaged in farming but who could not afford to secure the chicks”.
The commissioner said adequate vaccines, drugs and feed-mills that would be enough to last between five and six weeks had been put in place for distribution to beneficiary farmers.
Adewole who described the initiative as a veritable tool to eliminate poverty, hunger and unemployment said the scheme would go a long way to further attract the young ones to livestock production.
He stressed that Governor Gboyega Oyetola is committed to revamping the agricultural sector, noting that efforts were tailored towards tapping and advancing the numerous opportunities embedded in the scheme having identified its potential to enhance the goals of livestock farmers.
The commissioner thus urged the beneficiaries to avail themselves of the multifaceted advantages in the initiative.
The beneficiaries of the initiative lauded the government efforts at revitalising the agricultural sector through the interventions and farmers-friendly policies.
They expressed delight at the gesture and promised to justify the purpose to which the programme was implemented.
Speaking on behalf of other beneficiaries, Mr Nurudeen Ibrahim and Mrs. Oguntuwase Adenike registered their profound gratitude to the government for prioritising agriculture and welfare of farmers.
They lauded govermor Oyetola for redefining the initiative, saying the government has made the scheme to become more lucrative and enterprising for livestock farmers.
Lateefah Ibrahim
