– As project coordinator seeks governor’s guidance
To further encourage federal government commitment towards attaining optimal productivity in the livestock industry, the Kano state governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje assures his commitment in supporting Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES), a brainchild of the federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
He made the assurance when the National Project Coordinator of L-PRES, Mrs Winnie Lai-Solarin, who is also the Director Animal Husbandry Services of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, with her team, paid him a courtesy call at the Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro, Abuja, Friday evening.
The project is a World Bank project which includes federal and state governments, that is about livestock production. How to improve the industry and create wealth around it for the overall development for the national economy.
“This project is a good omen for the country. It is important to note that, livestock industry is being neglected for decades. Which caused some identified setbacks in the economy,” he said.
He reminded that, for the sake of getting stronger economy, from the industry, “…we need to understand that, a litre of milk is more expensive than the litre of oil. So we need to stand up and get this properly. But we don’t take this advantage. We have the market and everything.”
While reminding that, if livestock industry could get the necessary attention, it would do a lot in settling herders-farmers disputes across the country, explaining that, “That is why we came up with this issue of RUGA settlement in the state, at Dansoshiya forest.”
Governor Ganduje said “We take this issue of livestock industry very important, that was why we sponsored some Fulani youth to Turkey and learned artificial insemination. Only Fulani youth were sponsored and they completed their training. We included female youth in the training, because they are the ones who are more engaged in milk processing and marketing than their Male counterparts.”
He said “I am telling you that we are glad to be part of this good project. I am therefore informing you that we are solidly behind this initiative. You have our support. We accept this programme very well.”
Earlier the National Project Coordinator, Lai-Solarin expressed her gratitude for the governor’s acceptance and support for the project, assuring that “We shall come and copy many things from Kano. We will be learning from you Your Excellency. So that we can know how to do it very well.”
She added that the project came into being in order to revisit the importance and potentialities of livestock for economic development, “To also improve productivity and commercialization of livestock in the country,” she explained.
Explaining further that, “This project has three major components. One, is to strengthen national institutions on livestock industry. To strengthen both individual and institutional capacity around that. And secondly, is to enhance the value chain productivity. And thirdly, is to promote conflict prevention between farmers and herders.”
She commended that they saw genuine enterprise in the state, “…it is from here in Kano, that we came to clearly understand what enterprise is all about. You did well in Kano Sir, you provided alot for your people Your Excellency.”
They gave the governor a standing ovation when he finished his brief remarks. And added that they saw an excellent environment for the project to thrive very well.
Governor Ganduje received the delegation in the presence of the Managing Director of Kano State Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (KNARDA), Ibrahim Sulaiman Dan Isle, with other Directors from the agency.
