Kwara Steps Up Livestock Reforms to Boost Food Production and Jobs

The Kwara State Government says it is intensifying reforms in the livestock sector to increase food production, create jobs and improve the incomes of farmers and pastoralists.

The Commissioner for Livestock Development, Oloruntoyosi Thomas, disclosed this while reviewing the achievements of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s administration in the sector.

She said average milk production increased from 274.5 litres per cow annually at baseline to 352.2 litres in 2025, representing a 28.3 per cent rise.

Average cattle carcass weight also increased from 135 kilogrammes to 190.8 kilogrammes, while sheep carcass weight rose from 14.2 to 23.7 kilogrammes.

Thomas said 238,718 animals, including cattle, sheep, goats and poultry, had been vaccinated against major diseases, benefiting more than 1,100 farmers.

She said 8,951 people had also been profiled across selected livestock value chains since the start of L-PRES activities in October 2023.

The government has rehabilitated and equipped the veterinary laboratory in Ilorin and improved its vaccine cold-chain system with solar power.

Ten integrated ruminant farming clusters have also been developed, alongside facilities including boreholes, drinking troughs, cattle sheds and feedlots.

The commissioner said 1,509 farmers had received training in areas including fodder production, crop-residue use and bull fattening.

She identified farmer-herder conflicts, limited veterinary and extension services, weak breeding services and poor infrastructure maintenance as ongoing challenges.

Thomas called for increased private-sector investment in livestock markets, feed processing and cold-chain infrastructure.