30,000 livestock farmers in Kogi state are set to benefit from the $500 million world bank intervention fund aimed at empowering livestock farmers across the country.
The Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES) is a multifaceted initiative aimed at enhancing the livestock sector in Nigeria with Kogi State coming at the forefront of the project implementation.
Speaking with journalists during orientation workshop organized for members of Kogi state L-PRES Project Implementation Unit (PIU) in Lokoja on Friday, the State coordinator, Dr Olufemi Bolarin said that the aim of the project was to improve the livestock production through the commercialization of the business to enhance profits for livestock farmers in the country.
He noted that the workshop which was all about concept, process and philosophy would drive the implementation of the project in Kogi state adding that the project which has fully commenced is expected to captured 21,000 direct beneficiaries and 9,000 women beneficiaries in the state.
Dr Bolarin explained that the world bank in its quest to support livestock production in Nigeria has invested into the life cycle of the project across the country to the tone of $500 million , noting that states have already paid their resettlement funds for the project to commence.
He said “The States have given us the enabling environment for the project to commence. The target beneficiaries are the livestock farmers and we are planning that at the end of the day we should be able to reach directly to 30,000 livestock farmers in Kogi State and out of this figure 30 per cent will be allocated to women.
“Even those who rear animals at home , those operating at small, medium and large scale level will benefit from the project and they will make a lot of profits from the business”
Dr Bolarin who hinted that L-PRES will soon commenced profiling of livestock farmers in Kogi state, assured that the exercise would last for six years.
“To qualified for the project as a beneficiary you must have livestock either in micro, small, medium or large scale” he stated.
Speaking on the farmers/herders incessant clashes, the project coordinator attributed the crises to heavy competition for natural resources and assured that the project would invest the sum of $40 million to establish small , medium and large scale ranches.
“Grasses will be produced so that the animals will have enough food so that the issue of crises that often erupted between the farmers and herders will be minimized if not eradicated”
Others who spoke are the workshop includes Dr. Oyesola Olumide Oyebanji who is the Lead Coordinating Consulltant for Kogi L-PRES, the second resource person is Pastor Ajuwon Sola Samuel while Dr. Olufemi Bolarin is Kogi State L-PRES State Coordinator.
