Farmers urged to boost livestock production with fodder inputs

Farmers in Taraba State have been encouraged to make use of the recently distributed agricultural inputs to enhance livestock production.

Making the call at the official flag-off of the distribution of fodder choppers, residue crushers, pasture seeds, and fodder shrub seedlings, the commissioner of Agriculture and Food Security, Professor Nicolas O. Namessan, emphasised that the inputs are intended to support sustainable farming practices and improve livestock productivity.

The Commissioner who doubles as the chairman of the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES), said the initiative aims to bolster the state’s agricultural sector, reduce feed shortages, and improve the livelihoods of farmers.

He urged the beneficiaries not to sell the items but to utilize them judiciously to promote food security and economic growth in Taraba, where livestock farming plays a significant role in the economy.

Supporting the position of the commissioner, the State Project Coordinator of the L-PRES, Hananiah G. Albert, announced that the state L-PRES has received immense support from the present administration of Governor Agbu Kefas.

“For the past two activity years, governor Kefas has expeditiously approved the payment of state counterpart funds for the project, and on several occasions, gave strategic and fatherly advice on the smooth implementation of the project,” Albert said.

He said the governor had positioned Taraba State to be selected in the L-PRES sub-project called the livestock service centre to be located in Sunkani, in the Ardo-kola local government council of the state.

He said the facility planned for Sunkani will be equipped with modern livestock and human infrastructures to stimulate livestock value chains, create job opportunities for the teeming youths, and generate substantial revenue for the state.

He assured that more fodder-chopping and crop residue crushing machines and other critical livestock inputs will be procured and distributed in the next few years of the project cycle and will continue from 2025.

Earlier, the state governor, who spoke through the Commissioner of Agriculture and Food Security, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to making life easy for the people irrespective of political party affiliations.

Some of the beneficiaries, who spoke with The Guardian, said the equipment will address the plight of farmers spread across the state.