Experts have said that training some drivers in growth of the nation’s livestock sector is key to improved productivity of livestock for food security in Nigeria.
The co-task team leader of Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (LPRES)/World Bank, Dr. Chidozie Anyiro, made the assertion at the closing ceremony of a weeklong capacity building programme by the Kwara state government and packaged by the Synergy Impact Consultant Limited for an additional 100 extension agents/farmers on small ruminant production and crop residue processing for improved utilisation by ruminants in Ilorin, Kwara.
The LPRES team lead also said that consistent training of farmers is key to addressing broader objective of the food security agenda of the federal government.
“You cannot improve productivity without addressing some key drivers in the growth of our livestock. For instance, you have to address pasture needs, water needs, among other issues.
“So the training of these drivers such as the farmers, extension agents, etc is very key to addressing those constraints that have hindered productivity of our livestock”, he said.
Dr. Anyiro, who said that objective of the LPRES project is to improve livestock productivity, resilience, and commercialisation of selected livestock chains, added that the capacity building of the selected farmers/extension agents, who he described as frontliners, is part of the efforts to achieve the broader objective of LPRES.
Talking about the need to have adequate number of such people to achieve desired objective, the agricultural expert said that there is a need for consistent training.
“Livestock productivity is a gradual process. It’s about consistency. Where we have missed it in the past is in doing a one-off activity and you think it would make significant impact. So, consistency means a lot, making sure that you are connected with people that you have trained and you keep training them because there are a lot of technologies that have come up on a daily basis and you have to keep updating the farmers on the new trend.
“It has a lot to do with food security programme of the present government in the country. Yes of course. One focuses on availability, affordability, nutritious food. Before you can achieve the broader food security agenda of the country, there are other sub components that you need to address. So, this training is key to addressing the broader objective of the food security agenda of Mr. President”, he said.
Also speaking, the Kwara State Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs. Toyosi Thomas, who represented Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, said that the state government decided to invest in the participants to ensure critical growth and development of agricultural production in the state.
The governor charged the participants to take the training seriously and put it into practice, saying that they should not see it as one such ordinary training.
He encouraged them to scale down the training among members of their various communities, adding that their performance would allow government to continue the training programme for more beneficiaries to enjoy.
He expressed happiness that past participants had been training others to improve livelihood among the populace.
“Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq is prioritizing human capital development. Especially, the extension agents. We are determined to strengthen the number to over a thousand frontliners from the present number of 500 beneficiaries.
“Our target is to have one extension agent in each ward of the state and to ensure mobility, by providing one motorcycle in each ward for effectiveness”.
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