At least 1.4 million persons across the country are expected to benefit from the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (L-PRES) initiative by the federal government.
Hananiel Albert, the Taraba State Coordinator of the programme disclosed this at the inauguration of the state Steering Committee and State Technical Committee for the programme, in Jalingo, Wednesday.
He said thirty per cent of the beneficiaries will be women, adding that the programme will positively impact the living standard of the beneficiaries.
He further disclosed that 40,000 people in the state are expected to benefit, with a focus on livestock value chains including cattle, sheep, goats, and poultry.
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“The choice of these classes of livestock by the state was deliberate because of the comparative and competitive advantage that Taraba State has over other states in the North-East geographical zone of the country.”
The beneficiaries, according to him, encompass a broad spectrum of livestock producers, animal feed suppliers, equipment dealers, marketers, transporters, animal product processors, input suppliers, and off-takers, among others.
Albert stressed that livestock farmers and sector operators will receive extension and animal health services, as well as support for livestock infrastructure development.
Key aspects of the project, he said include the construction and rehabilitation of livestock markets, abattoirs, slaughter slabs, provision of manual and motorized boreholes, installation of weigh bridges and loading ramps in livestock markets and establishment of an Artificial Insemination (AI) Centre.
The Commissioner of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Professor Nicholas Namessan, expressed confidence that the L-PRES project, championed by the World Bank, will enhance the livelihoods of secondary and pastoral communities, as well as other livestock farmers in the state.
Governor Agbu Kefas represented by his deputy Alhaji Aminu Alkali, pledged his unwavering support for the committees.
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