In a groundbreaking development, 1.43 million Nigerians are slated to benefit from the ongoing Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (L-PRES) program initiated by the federal government.
This was made known during the inauguration of the Taraba State Steering Committee (SSC) and the State Technical Committee (STC) of L-PRES in Jalingo. Hananiah Albert, the state coordinator of L-PRES, disclosed that 30 percent of the beneficiaries would be women.
Albert announced that 40,000 people in Taraba are set to benefit from the project, emphasizing the state’s deliberate focus on livestock value chains, including cattle, sheep, goat, and poultry, due to its advantageous position in the North-East geographical zone.
Prospective beneficiaries, as outlined by Albert, range from livestock producers, feed suppliers, equipment dealers, and marketers to transporters, processors, input suppliers, and off-takers.
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The project aims to support livestock farmers and sector operators with extension services, animal health services, and investments in infrastructure such as the construction and rehabilitation of livestock markets, abattoirs, and slaughter slabs.
Furthermore, the initiative, will facilitate the provision of manual and motorized boreholes, installation of weigh bridges and loading ramps in livestock markets, and the establishment of an Artificial Insemination (AI) Centre, among other measures.
The Commissioner of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Professor Nicholas Namessan, affirmed the project’s potential to enhance livelihoods in secondary and pastoral communities.
The strategic injections of inputs and support services, championed by the World Bank, are expected to drive positive change in the state’s livestock sector.
Governor Dr Agbu Kefas, through his deputy, Alhaji Aminu Alkali, pledged robust support for the two committees, ensuring their effective functioning in implementing the L-PRES project.
Stating that this initiative signifies a significant step towards fortifying the livestock sector and uplifting communities across Taraba state.
