The Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (L-PRES) initiative by the federal government is set to benefit 1.4 million people across the country, revealed Hananiel Albert, Taraba State coordinator of the programme.
Speaking at the inauguration of the state Steering Committee and the State Technical Committee for the programme in Jalingo on Wednesday, Albert emphasized that 30 per cent of the beneficiaries will be women, underscoring the positive impact the programme will have on their living standards.
He further announced that 40,000 people in the state, with a focus on livestock value chains including cattle, sheep, goat, and poultry, are expected to benefit from the initiative. Albert highlighted that the deliberate choice of these classes of livestock in the state was due to the comparative and competitive advantage that Taraba State has over other states in the North East geographical zone of the country.
The beneficiaries will encompass a broad spectrum of livestock producers, animal feed suppliers, equipment dealers, marketers, transporters, animal product processors, input suppliers, off-takers, among others, according to Albert. He emphasized that the L-PRES initiative will provide extension and animal health services, as well as support for livestock infrastructure development for livestock farmers and sector operators.
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Key aspects of the project include the construction and rehabilitation of livestock markets, abattoirs, slaughter slabs, provision of manual and motorised boreholes, installation of weigh bridges and loading ramps in livestock markets, and the establishment of an Artificial Insemination (AI) Centre.
In support of the initiative, the Commissioner of Agriculture and Food Security, Professor Nicholas Namessan, expressed confidence that the championed L-PRES project 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 unwavering support for the committees, ensuring their effective functioning in realising the goals of the L-PRES project.