Amidst efforts to ameliorate the ripple effects of the climate change on farmers, the Federal Government has provided palliatives to support livestock’s farmers in Kwali Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory.

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture And Food Security, Dr Ernest Umakhihe, while distributing the items, which include poultry feeds, transport crates, pig feeds, disinfectant ruminant concentrates and salt, stated that although the palliatives cannot replace their losses, but it will go a long way to cushion the effect of the flood that affected their cattle farms.

Represented by the Director of Special Duty, Mrs Fausat Lawal, Umakhihe noted that livestock industry is growing rapidly and contributing immensely to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Umakhihe said: “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is concerned about food security and we are not only here to share palliative, but to also have a discussion with you on your needs, the problems you are facing and also speak to you on the latest development in the field of animal husbandry.”

Also speaking, Professor Oluwafemi Rufus, from the department of animal science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Abuja, advised livestock farmers to go into snail farming. He informed that snail is now in high demand by those abstaining from red meat.

Rufus stated that climate change is affecting livestock farming greatly and one of the ways to mitigate its effect is by ranching and storing leaves during harvest to be used during dry season.

He said: “There are some feed supplements that can be added to the dry feed to make it more nutritious for the animals. Livestock farmers should endeavor to build boreholes to supply water to their animals.”

The Director, Department of Animal Husbandry Services, Mrs Winnie Layi Sholarin, revealed that they are almost reaching the end of the programme, which started immediately after the flood, noting that the palliatives have been distributed across the country. “FCT’s own came late due to the challenges they faced in getting the list of the affected farmers because they want it to be as transparent as possible.

“The technical backstopping will go back to see how the products given and the farmers are faring. We will not go to all the farms, but will do a sample of some of these farms to ensure that these items are used judiciously utilised.”