Kaduna Begins Distribution of Livestock Support to 5,000 Farmer Cooperatives

Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has flagged off the distribution of livestock support items to 5,000 farmer cooperatives across the state.

Source: thestar.ng

The governor said the programme is part of efforts to make Kaduna the agricultural and livestock hub of Northern Nigeria. He spoke on Thursday at the launch of the distribution programme.

At the event, the government distributed 500 solar-powered freezers with panels, inverters and batteries, 300 feed millers, 3,000 bags of poultry feed and 200,000 day-old chicks to organised cooperatives in the 23 local government areas of the state.

Sani, represented by the Deputy Governor, Hadiza Balarabe, said the intervention would help improve livestock production, reduce losses and increase income opportunities for farmers.

He said 5,000 farmers grouped into cooperatives of ten members each would benefit from the programme.

The governor added that the state government had earlier rehabilitated abattoirs and slaughter slabs, built veterinary clinics and boreholes in pastoral communities, and deployed mobile veterinary teams for animal healthcare.

He also said vaccination campaigns had covered more than 850,000 cattle, 250,000 sheep and goats, 250,000 poultry and 5,000 dogs to prevent livestock diseases.

Sani said the government had also distributed residue crushers and fodder choppers to help convert crop residues into livestock feed and improve feed availability.

He noted that the livestock programmes complement other agricultural initiatives in the state, including the Tallafin Noma programme and dry and wet season farming support schemes for smallholder farmers.

The governor advised farmers to use the distributed equipment responsibly to improve livestock production and strengthen the state’s agricultural sector.