Kwara Trains 500 Livestock Farmers to Boost Rural Incomes and Curb Farmer-Herder Clashes

A transformative drive is unfolding in Ifelodun Local Government Area, where 500 livestock farmers have been equipped with practical skills in goat fattening and animal feed production. The initiative, a collaboration between the Kwara State Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES) and the local council, is part of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s wider mission to uplift rural livelihoods while tackling the longstanding tensions between farmers and herders.

Source: Nigerian News Direct

The training, held in the bustling community of Idofian, brought together farmers eager to sharpen their craft and adopt modern, cost-effective practices. Deputy Governor Kayode Alabi, represented by State House of Assembly member Hon. Ganiyu Salau, described the programme as a major step toward agricultural transformation in Kwara. He emphasised that by turning agricultural waste into valuable animal feed, farmers can reduce expenses, increase their profits, and contribute to peaceful coexistence in the state’s farming communities.

Hon. Femi Yusuf, Chairman of Ifelodun Local Government Area, noted that the scheme’s benefits go beyond boosting productivity—it also has the potential to generate new jobs, lower feed costs, and strengthen the local economy. He reaffirmed the council’s commitment to working with partners to provide essential rural amenities, such as water, to complement such interventions.

State Project Coordinator of L-PRES, Mr. Olusoji Oyawoye, urged young people in the area to take agriculture seriously, seizing opportunities to become self-reliant and free themselves from the limitations of white-collar job dependence. He stressed that the skills being transferred through the programme are not only for individual gain but also for the broader development of the community.

The step-down training, drawn from L-PRES’ broader work in small ruminant production and crop residue processing, forms part of a nationwide strategy to increase livestock productivity, build resilience in rural economies, and foster lasting harmony between farmers and herders across Nigeria.