By Kingsley Unah
The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS), has distributed agricultural inputs and animal feeds to flood affected livestock farmers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The exercise, aimed at cushioning the effect of climate change, increase production as well as address the high cost of animal feeds in the country is part of the aggressive effort of the government towards revitalizing the Agriculture Sector, improve farmers livelihood as well as enhance food and nutrition security.
Speaking during the event which took place recently, at the Project Coordination Unit Quarters, Kwali Area Council, Abuja, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Ernest Umakhihe, who was represented by the Director, Special Duties, Mrs Fausat Lawal, stated that ‘’the Ministry is not relenting in its efforts of working out interventions that will address the plight of livestock farmers, noting that the sector contributes immensely to the Nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Dr. Ernest Umakhihe added that “the Ministry will remain passionate when it comes to improving productivity of smallholder farmers who are mostly women and youth, we will continue do everything in our capacity to encourage livestock production in the country.”
He pointed out that the initiative was a direct response to Mr. President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in the agriculture sector to tackle rising food prices and shortage in the country.
In his remarks, the Mandate Secretary, Agriculture and Rural Secretariat, FCT, Alhaji Kolo Geidam, aptly represented by Mrs Onyeji Edith said ‘’the programme was timely.She commended the Ministry’s commitment towards enhancing farmer’s income and livelihood’’.
Speaking further, Mrs Onyeji encouraged farmers to deploy what they learned from the interactive session to ensure a turnaround in productivity in their respective farms.
Earlier In her welcome address, the Director, Animal Husbandry Services, Mrs Winnie Lar Solarin, explained that ‘’the event was a golden opportunity to share ideas, keep in touch with farmers and acquit them with modern farming technologies to help improve their farming activities’’.
Adding, she emphasized the need for farmers to get their farms insured to avert the risk inherent in the business. She charged them to always report to the Ministry of incidences occurred in their various farms to the appropriate authority in order to streamline preventive measures to tame future occurrences.
In appreciation to the Government, one of the beneficiaries, a Livestock farmer, Mr. Yusuf Usman, thanked the Federal Government for a timely intervention through the provision of palliatives to step down the devastating effects of climate change. Mallam Yesuf pledged to judiciously use the palliatives to advance the cause of his farming activities.
High points of the event was a practical distribution of animal feeds such as: Poultry Feeds, Pig Feeds, Transport Crates, Salt Lick Ruminant among others. Also, Concentrates and disinfectants were distributed to about Four Hundred Farmers in the Livestock Sub-sector.