agriculture
KWSG Commences Statewide Stakeholders Sensitization Exercise on L-PRES Project
L-pres Team in a group photograph with stakeholders at Bode Sa’adu, Moro LGA.
In preparation for the official flag-off of the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES), the Kwara State Government through the State Coordinating Office has commenced stakeholders’ sensitization exercise for the project.
The project, which has as part of its objectives, to improve livestock productivity, resilience, and commercialization of selected value chain and strengthened the country’s capacity to respond to an eligible crisis in the sector.
Addressing stakeholders at Bode Sa’adu, the headquarters of Moro Local Government Area of the state, the State Project Coordinator (SPC), Mr. Olusoji Oyawoye said the sensitization exercise is imperative in order to properly inform the stakeholders in livestock value chain business on the opportunities embedded in the project.
Mr. Oyawoye explained that the project, when fully implemented would lead to improved performance and livelihood of the livestock farmers, and other value chain operators by increasing the volume of sales, reduce mortality rates and create more job opportunities for women and youths in the state.
The coordinator, however, sought for the cooperation of all stakeholders involved in the smooth and efficient implementation of the project for a better and prosperous state.
In his contribution, the Project Extension Officer, Mallam Nureni Abdulrasaq harped on the importance of accurate mapping and profiling of the beneficiaries, which he described as the backbone of the project, and urged all the potential beneficiaries to ensure that they were properly captured in the ongoing profiling exercise.
He added that the success of the project relied heavily on the number of successful beneficiaries mapped and profiled, which, according to him, determines the amount of benefits to be received by the state.
Also speaking, the Project Gender Specialist, Mrs. Folake Iseyemi enjoined women in the livestock business to take advantage of the project to improve their business by making themselves available for mapping and profiling exercise.
She disclosed that at least 30% of the beneficiaries have been allocated to the female gender with a view to empowering them in contributing to family needs.
In their separate remarks, the leaders of the various stakeholders present at the event, who appreciated the state government for the laudable programme, described it as first of its kind in the history of livestock sector in the state and pledged their unalloyed support for the success of the project.
The team had earlier visited the District Head of Bode Sa’adu, Alh. Gambari Aliyu Olarongbe, where they sought support and royal blessings from the traditional ruler.
Highlights of the exercise were the inspection and need assessment of some of the livestock facilities in the area and interactions with various stakeholders in the sector.
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