Kogi inaugurates mass Artificial Insemination campaign for livestock

Kogi inaugurates mass Artificial Insemination campaign for livestock

The Kogi Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (Kogi L-PRES) has launched a five-day campaign to promote mass Artificial Insemination across the state.

The sensitisation campaign, which began on Monday, is targeting livestock farmers in Lokoja and will run until Friday.

Speaking at the event, Commissioner for Livestock Development, Dr Olufemi Bolarin, said the initiative demonstrated the administration’s commitment to modernising livestock production.

He said the programme, supported by Gov. Ahmed Ododo, would strengthen food security and improve livelihoods across the livestock value chain.

According to Bolarin, artificial insemination offers several advantages over natural mating, including access to superior genetics and higher milk yields.

He added that the technology could also support faster animal growth, reduce disease transmission and lower production costs for livestock farmers.

“We are providing technical support through trained technicians and capacity building to ensure farmers succeed.

“The goal is healthier animals, higher productivity and better income for livestock farmers,” he said.

The State Project Coordinator, Kogi L-PRES, Mr Abdulkabir Otaru, said the programme would provide farmers access to superior genetics and technical support.

Otaru said the intervention was designed to improve meat and milk production while strengthening animals’ resilience to diseases.

He said the first phase would target 1,500 cows and 500 goats through the use of conventional and sexed semen.

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According to him, eligible farmers profiled under Kogi L-PRES can present between three and five animals each for the intervention.

Otaru said Kogi L-PRES had engaged Genedxx Nigerian Ltd to provide artificial insemination inputs and technical services.

He added that the project had commenced construction of three Livestock Improvement and Breeding Centres (LIBCs), one in each senatorial district.

The centres, he said, would help sustain the artificial insemination programme and strengthen livestock breeding across the state.

Otaru urged farmers to embrace artificial insemination, saying the technology had globally improved herd quality, productivity and profitability.

He commended Governor Ododo for supporting agricultural transformation and advancing interventions aimed at improving livestock production in Kogi.

The state Chairman of the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association, Dr Tolu Omotugba, commended the initiative but stressed the importance of ranching.

Omotugba said ranching was essential to maximising the benefits of artificial insemination and ensuring effective livestock management.

A farmer, Mr Saidu Liman, also welcomed the programme, saying it would improve meat and milk quality and increase market prices.

Liman pledged to mobilise other livestock farmers to participate actively in the artificial insemination campaign.