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The Kogi State Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (Kogi L-PRES) has provided 21 motorcycles to Livestock Extension Agents in all 21 Local Government Areas of the state, offering mobility assistance to improve the delivery of livestock extension and advisory services within livestock value chain clusters.

Additionally, 1,000 animal husbandry extension guides were provided to animal farmers within the 64 value chain groups in the state.

Furthermore, veterinary medical equipment—including laboratory tools, meat inspection kits, mobile kits, and surgical kits—was provided to the Department of Veterinary Services under the Ministry of Livestock Development in Lokoja, aiming to enhance animal disease diagnosis, veterinary care, food safety, and security within the state.

The Livestock Development Commissioner, Dr. Olufemi Bolarin, who launched the distribution program in Lokoja on Saturday, stated that this effort is part of events leading up to a one-day meeting with stakeholders focused on improving livestock extension and advisory service delivery in the state.

He urged the Livestock Extension Agents to utilize the resources available to them wisely, with the aim of promoting the development of the livestock value chain in Kogi.

Dr. Bolarin warned the recipients not to utilize the facilities for business or personal purposes, highlighting that they were solely intended for performing extension and advisory work.

He also called on the L-PRES State Project Coordinator, Otaru Abdulkabir, to maintain focus on employee well-being and compensation in order to boost efficiency within the livestock industry.

The commissioner observed, ‘The economic strength of a country is rooted in its degree of agricultural advancement, serving as a foundation for social and economic growth along with job generation.’

Previously, Mr. Otaru Abdulkabir, the State Project Coordinator of L-PRES, outlined the framework for delivering livestock extension and advisory services in Kogi State.

He showed enthusiasm about the implementation of the Farmer-to-Farmer Extension and Advisory Service model, with leading livestock farmers and value chain cluster coordinators effectively carrying out their responsibilities within the key value chains in the state.

Abdulkabir added that the livestock extension services in Kogi have transitioned to a digital system, highlighting the technical skills of extension officers who now utilize the KoboTool platform to collect real-time data while providing services.

He revealed that the partnership between Kogi L-PRES and the Kogi Agricultural Development Project (ADP) had produced favorable and significant outcomes, promising that the advancements would continue in the coming years.

The Agriculture and Food Security Commissioner, Mr. Timothy Ojomah; the Kogi ADP Managing Director, Dr. Bello Ogirima; the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development State Coordinator, Mrs. Abah Helen; and the livestock farmers’ representative, Mr. Ibrahim Daniel Arome, in their individual statements, praised the initiative, stating that it would enhance livestock production within the state.

They also called on the government at every level to address the issue of “ghost farmers” and guarantee that only real farmers receive advantages from government initiatives and support schemes.

Arome, a recipient, commended the state government and L-PRES for the program, vowing to use the resources efficiently for their designated goals.

Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).