By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja.
Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has granted credit support to 500 women, Youths in Poultry Value Chain from across the 21 Local Government Areas of the state in his administration’s effort 5o revolutionize livestock and poultry production in the state.
Speaking at the ceremony at the Glass House, Governor House, Lokoja on Tuesday, the governor said the effort was part of steps toward realizing the state’s 32 year development plan.
He said that the effort was in line with Article 6 and 7 of the State’s Consolidation and Continuity Manifesto to drive his administration’s plan for crop and livestock improvement in the state.
Gov. Ododo hinted that the World Bank-Assisted Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES) was a giant stride in Nigeria’s drive towards food security and economic prosperity.
“It aligns seamlessly with our administration’s short, medium, and long term plan to make Kogi the epic center of livestock production in Nigeria.
“We are determined to achieve the project development objective here in Kogi state. Let me seize this moment to congratulate the 500 women and youth poultry farmers and entrepreneurs selected as beneficiaries”, he said.
Ododo declared that a boom in livestock production in Kogi State would enable it to serve the 10 neighbouring states and the Federal Capital Territory seamlessly “with our arable land, favourable climate as well as abundant human and material resources.
“I want to assure the World Bank that we shall continue to inject our projects with great political will and zeal to the benefit of our great people”, he said.
The Governor announced a grant of N100,000 to each of the 500 beneficiaries as logistic support for their various businesses adding that the Service Provider would be immediately energized to commence the supply of their inputs”, he added.
The governor also approved a Desk Officer to represent the People Living With Special Needs at the L-PRES office as requested by representative of PWD.
He added, “As a way for boosting our local economy, we have urged the service provider to patronize local vendors of poultry inputs in the state.”
Speaking earlier, the state Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Timothy Ojomah thanked Governor Ododo for his resilience and support to Agriculture sector as shown in the timely payment of counterpart funds.
Ojomah charges the 500 beneficiaries of the scheme at whatever point along the value chain to judiciously utilize the the opportunity to increase their production and or services, to better their lives, the society and ensure food sufficiency.
Dr Olufemi Bolarin, State Coordinator of the L-PRES commended the governor’s vision and tireless efforts in boosting livestock production which he said was borne out of the governor’s vision for empowerment of women and the youth in Kogi.
Dr Sani Abdullahi Ozomata, Technical Adviser on the project charged the beneficiaries to take full advantage of the programme since it is not going to be a continuous thing adding that the governor may soon face another direction in agricultural production.
Ozomata said the government expected a rippling effect of the programme from each of the beneficiaries who are not just starting but already existing at either at production, processing or marketing levels completing the Poultry Value Chain. (Ends)