The Kogi State Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (Kogi L -PRES), has launched a one-week intensive training on Artificial Insemination (AI) for 30 participants, comprising animal scientists, veterinarians, and lead farmers from across the state.
The training is being hosted at the National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI) in Zaria, Kaduna State.
Abdulkabir Ononuoyiza Otaru, while speaking on the exercise on Monday in Lokoja, described artificial insemination in livestock as a technique for controlled breeding and genetic improvement, adding that the training is crucial for achieving the project’s goal of increasing productivity, commercialization, and resilience of the livestock value chain in Kogi State.
Otaru commended Governor Ahmed Ododo for his full support for the improvement of livestock productivity value chain in the state.
“Professionals in livestock field, including veterinarians, animal scientists, and farmers are selected for further training on artificial insemination by trainers from NSPRI Zaria.
“The training is crucial for project goals in Kogi State and supported by Governor Ahmed Ododo’s administration.
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“The goal is to improve livestock productivity for food security and farmers’ livelihoods in Kogi State. Participants will train farmers clusters and stakeholders in livestock value chain across the state.
“Full commitment to training by the participants is essential to justify government’s investment in the project.
“The training is expected to equip the participants with the necessary skills to improve livestock productivity and contribute to the growth of the livestock industry in Kogi State”.
Abdulsalam Hadi, permanent secretary, Kogi State Ministry of Livestock Development, commended the governor for his commitment to improving livestock development in the state, noting that the training is a testament to the government’s efforts to support farmers and improve livestock productivity.
Shaibu Husseini Egwu and Isah Anate Jimoh, director of Veterinary Services, Ministry of Livestock Development, and director of Animal Husbandry, in their separate responses, stressed the importance of AI in animal improvement, highlighting its potential to increase milk and meat production, pointing out on the need to adopt new techniques to improve mass livestock productivity and meet the growing demand for livestock products.
Adeniyi Omoniyi Oloninisi, Animal Husbandry Officer, KOGI L-PRES project, and Tolu Omotugba, chairman, Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA), equally noted that AI will increase livestock productivity, reduce the risk of sexually transmitted diseases, and improve the genetic quality of animals, as they commended the state government for the initiative, saying it will empower veterinarians to carry out AI procedures and prove livestock production in the state .
Musa Ibrahim, Onu of Ochaja, a livestock farmer, commended the L-PRES project for its impact on livestock farmers in the state through capacity building trainings, as he expressed gratitude to the governor for his support to the project and assured that the participants would take advantage of the training to broaden their knowledge on AI.
