Kogi Supplies Motorcycles and Vet Kits to Livestock Workers

Kogi State Launches New Livestock Development Initiatives

The Kogi State Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (Kogi L-PRES) has made significant strides in enhancing livestock development across the state. As part of its efforts, the project has distributed 21 motorcycles to Livestock Extension Agents operating in the 21 Local Government Areas. These motorcycles are intended to improve mobility and support the delivery of extension and advisory services at livestock value chain clusters.

In addition to the motorcycles, 1,000 livestock extension manuals have been handed out to farmers across the 64 value chain clusters. These manuals aim to provide practical guidance and information on best practices for livestock management and production.

Another key component of the initiative involves the provision of veterinary medical equipment to the Department of Veterinary Services, Ministry of Livestock Development, in Lokoja. The equipment includes laboratory tools, meat inspection kits, ambulatory kits, and surgical kits. This move is expected to enhance animal disease diagnosis, improve veterinary services, and ensure food safety and security within the state.

Stakeholders’ Engagement and Policy Directions

The distribution exercise was flagged off by the Commissioner for Livestock Development, Dr. Olufemi Bolarin, during a stakeholders’ engagement event held in Lokoja. The one-day event focused on strategies for improving the delivery of livestock extension and advisory services.

Dr. Bolarin emphasized the importance of using the provided facilities for their intended purposes. He urged the Livestock Extension Agents to make judicious use of the resources to advance livestock value chain development. The commissioner also warned against the misuse of these facilities for commercial or private ventures.

He further encouraged the L-PRES State Project Coordinator, Otaru Abdulkabir, to prioritize staff welfare and remuneration to boost productivity in the livestock sub-sector. “The economic power of any nation depends on its level of agricultural transformation as a bedrock of socio-economic development and employment creation,” he noted.

Digital Transformation and Collaborative Efforts

Otaru Abdulkabir, the State Project Coordinator of L-PRES, presented an overview of the structure of livestock extension and advisory service delivery in Kogi State. He expressed satisfaction with the adoption of the Farmer-to-Farmer Extension and Advisory Service model, which involves lead livestock farmers and value chain cluster coordinators playing active roles in priority value chains.

Abdulkabir highlighted that livestock extension services in Kogi have gone digital. Extension workers now use the KoboTool platform to capture real-time data during service delivery, showcasing the technical expertise of the team.

He also shared that the collaboration between Kogi L-PRES and the Kogi Agricultural Development Project (ADP) has produced positive results. He assured that this progress would continue in the years ahead.

Support from Key Stakeholders

The Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Timothy Ojomah; the Managing Director of Kogi ADP, Dr. Bello Ogirima; the State Coordinator of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, Mrs. Abah Helen; and the representative of livestock farmers, Mr. Ibrahim Daniel Arome, all commended the initiative. They emphasized that it would strengthen livestock productivity in the state.

They also called on the government at all levels to address the issue of "ghost farmers" and ensure that only genuine farmers benefit from government interventions and support programs.

Arome, a beneficiary of the initiative, praised the state government and L-PRES for the effort. He pledged to use the resources effectively for their intended purposes.