Ekiti Govt Empowers Livestock Farmers with Technology Training
Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria – The Ekiti State government has initiated a comprehensive training program aimed at equipping livestock farmers with modern technological tools to enhance productivity and bolster food security within the state.
The initiative, aptly tagged ‘Training on Productivity and Technology Adoption, Survey and Analysis,’ was organized by the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES) under the purview of the State Ministry of Agriculture. Held in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, the program will provide extensive training over the course of a week to livestock farmers drawn from all local government areas of Ekiti State. The focus of the training will be on leveraging technology to significantly improve their productivity.
Representing the Commissioner for Agriculture, Ebenezer Boluwade, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Babatope Ojo, underscored the state government’s strategic focus on four key livestock value chains: Dairy/Beef, Sheep/Goat, Piggery, and Poultry (Broiler and Eggs production).
He urged all stakeholders and key players within these relevant value chains to foster strong synergy with other ancillary agribusinesses. This collaborative approach, he emphasized, is crucial to ensuring sustainable food security and promoting peaceful coexistence within Ekiti State. According to Mr. Ojo, “The livestock sub-sector is vast and presents significant promising production opportunities within our state. Consequently, L-PRES is implementing measures that will empower livestock farmers and related agribusinesses to mitigate challenges and enhance their adaptive capacities in order to modernize agricultural practices.”
Encouraging the participating farmers to fully embrace the training opportunity, the Permanent Secretary reiterated the state government’s unwavering commitment to supporting massive productivity gains within the livestock sector through the strategic application of technology. He further noted that this technological integration would play a vital role in fostering unity and understanding between farmers and herders in the state.
In his address, the Project Coordinator of L-PRES in Ekiti State, Olayinka Adedipe, highlighted the project’s extensive reach, currently operating across all 16 local government areas of the state. He also noted that L-PRES is actively engaged in mass extension work, collaborating closely with stakeholders from academic institutions and extension officers.
“If we are able to empower 200,000 farmers, consider the multitude of indirect job opportunities that will be linked to that. For these indirect jobs, we are projecting over 1.5 million potential jobs,” Mr. Adedipe stated, emphasizing the broader economic impact of the initiative.
The Lead Consultant for Synergy Impact Consultant Limited, Professor James Ogunlola, highlighted a historical emphasis on crop production, noting the significance of this shift in focus. “This marks a crucial turning point, as it is the first time the country is strategically shifting significant attention towards livestock production,” Professor Ogunlola remarked.
He underscored the undeniable importance of the livestock sector and affirmed that the L-PRES program would provide vital support to rural production. He further emphasized that the role of technology in achieving effective and sustainable productivity cannot be overstated. Professor Ogunlola asserted, “L-PRES is taking necessary and impactful steps, and I can confidently say that this process holds the potential to guide Nigeria out of its current challenges related to crisis, production, and overall livelihood.”
Professor Ogunlola concluded by recognizing Ekiti State’s pivotal role in agriculture: “Ekiti is an important state when it comes to Agriculture, and we are determined to propel the state forward. Over the next week, we will collectively work to enhance our understanding and develop effective strategies that participants can implement to introduce new and innovative ideas within the sector.”
