L-PRES Reaches 1.4 Million Nigerians, Expands Livestock Production

The Federal Government says more than 1.44 million Nigerians have benefited from the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project since the programme began.

Source: nannews

National Project Coordinator Dr Sanusi Abubakar announced this during the project’s mid-term review meeting, stating that the figure had surpassed the original target of 1.43 million beneficiaries.

He said the review meeting was held to assess progress, identify challenges and agree on measures to improve implementation across the country.

According to him, the beneficiaries include 546,000 women and 903,000 men. He said the project has provided training, advisory services, vaccination campaigns, pasture development, infrastructure support and farm inputs to livestock farmers.

Abubakar said the programme has also improved livestock production. Annual milk output per cow rose from 274.5 litres to 375.9 litres, while cattle carcass weight increased from 135 kilograms to 160 kilograms. He added that sheep production rose from 14.22 kilograms to 21.43 kilograms, while goat production also recorded steady growth.

He said more than 388,000 farmers have received agricultural services under the project, while over 101,000 have adopted improved livestock technologies. He added that 6,184 personnel, including extension workers, veterinary officers and artificial insemination technicians, have been trained to support livestock services nationwide.

Abubakar also said 1,492 farmers have benefited from artificial insemination services, with more than 3,489 cattle inseminated so far. He noted that the project is helping improve rural livelihoods, support women and strengthen household income.

The project, funded with 500 million dollars over six years by World Bank, supports the Federal Government’s livestock transformation plan under the administration of Bola Tinubu.