The World Bank-assisted Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support has empowered no fewer than 5, 200 female livestock farmers in Taraba State under the Federal Government’s National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy.
During a monitoring and evaluation training program, Hananiah Albert, the Taraba State L-PRES Coordinator, highlighted the project’s objectives, adding that it aim is to empower 1.43 million people in Nigeria, with 40,000 beneficiaries from Taraba State. Notably, 13% of these beneficiaries will be women.
“The L-PRES aims to empower 1.43 million people in Nigeria, of which 40,000 beneficiaries would be from Taraba State, spanning our selected livestock value chain.
“Of the 40,000 targets in the state, 13 percent, representing 5,200, would be women, demonstrating our commitment to including women across the livestock value chain”, he said.
Albert further explained that the project strategically focuses on specific livestock value chains, including cattle, sheep, goats, and poultry. All project activities will revolve around these livestock categories, encompassing production, milk processing, feed and livestock equipment supply, input provision, and pasture establishment.
He said, “In L-PRES, there is a comparative advantage in the choice of livestock value chain, and for us in Taraba State, we selected cattle, sheep, goats, and poultry.
“All our activities under this project will revolve around these four classes of livestock, and will include production, milk processing, feed and livestock equipment supply, input, and pasture establishment, among other support to be provided to the beneficiaries.”
Also, as part of efforts to enhance food production and ensure food security, the Federal Government distributed farm inputs to 257 small-scale farmers in Akwa Ibom State.
Dr. Uyobong Uko, Director of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, announced that beneficiaries from all 31 local government areas of the state will receive support.
“Fish farmers, crop farmers and poultry farmers will receive day-old chicks, bags of poultry feed, and bags of fish feed.
“They will receive sprayers, herbicides, liquid fertilisers, okra, maize, tomato and pepper seedlings, all in a bit to support agriculture, help them to feed themselves, feed the nation, and make the country food secure and sufficient”, he said.
