No fewer than 30,000 livestock farmers in Kogi state are 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 organised for members of Kogi state L-PRES Project Implementation Unit (PIU) in Lokoja weekend, the state coordinator, Dr Olufemi Bolarin, said the aim of the project was to improve the livestock production through the commercialisation 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 capture 21,000 direct beneficiaries and 9,000 women beneficiaries in the state.
Dr Bolarin added 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 30,000 livestock farmers in Kogi state. 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.”
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