Empowerment: Kebbi govt. distributes livestock to 2,778 pastoralists

Empowerment: Kebbi govt. distributes livestock to 2,778 pastoralists.

The Kebbi Government has distributed livestock and chickens to 2,778 pastoralists under the Accelerated Agricultural Development Scheme (AADS) in the state.

The distribution was performed by Hajiya Aisha Bagudu, the Wife of the state Governor, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu, at the flag – off ceremony in Maiyama Local Government Area on Friday.

In his remarks, the state Commissioner of Animal Health, Husbandry and Fisheries, Alhaji Aminu Dandiga, said that the government was committed to the diversification of economy and increasing internally generated revenue (IGR) of the state.

He said that the project was designed to improve local milk and enhance livestock production in the state.

“This programme is in partnership with Mass Literacy Programme and Almajiri Initiative (MALPAI)’s foundation and the 2,778 beneficiaries of the state government under the accelerated agricultural development scheme aids (livestock component).

“We have seven selected livestock value chains production enterprises,which are, sheep multiplication, goat multiplication, local chicken upgrading, home made yoghurt for Fulani women and milk collection scheme, commercial pasture production and modern beekeeping.

“Beneficiaries on sheep, will be given four sheep and one ram per beneficiary ; and on goat, four goat and he- goat for one beneficiary.

“On chicken, five local breed of chickens and feeds will be given to one beneficiary; among others.

“About 10 milk collectors have been provided with motorcycles and milk cans to collect and transport the fresh milk to livestock investigation and breeding centre at Bulasa, in Birnin Kebbi LGA for processing,” he said.

Dandiga said the government was constructing yoghurt factory at Bulasa, in Birnin Kebbi, adding that if completed would generate 1,000 liters of milk every day.

“It is also expected to generate N1.6 billion every year,” he said.

He added that, 500 beneficiaries would be empowered with animal feeds and N40,000.

“The repayment will be done with two liters of milk through the milk collectors who were earlier provided with motorcycles by the state government.

“We have 17 rooms whereby each is provided with two solar freezes, to store the unsold milk,” the commissioner said.

In her short remarks, Hajiya Bagudu,who is the founder of MALPAI, said the pastoralists were trained on local yoghurt, with the expectation of impacting the knowledge to others.

“We want to make the roaming around pastoralists sedentary; and we want the people to meet them in their settlements in order to buy their products, not necessary taking them to markets.

“This is just like ranch system the Federal Government is trying to establish, and that is what the governor is trying to do,” she said.

Bagudu noted that the animals’ kits and feeds would be granted to them as loan, explaining that,” only if you repay the facilities, other people will benefit.”

She warned them to take the loan with intention of repayment.

Hajiya Bagudu also urged the beneficiaries to appreciate the gesture and ensure the best use of the opportunity for the success and sustainability of the project.

The wife of the governor also enjoined the beneficiaries to utilise the gesture for the purpose it was meant in order to improve their socio- economic well-being

Earlier, the Chairman of Maiyama Local Government, Alhaji Zayyanu Bello, commended the wife of the governor for her passion and efforts to better the lives of pastoralist communities in the state.

“We also commend Gov. Atiku Bagudu for his agricultural drive and efforts to ensure that 2,500 hectares of land are being cultivated here in Maiyama in order to diversify our economy,” he said.

Bello urged the beneficiaries to utilise the gesture so as to increase their economic status and better the lives of their families.

A cross section of the beneficiaries, when interviewed, thanked the state government and the wife of the governor for the gesture, and assured that they would abide by the terms and conditions of the loan gesture for others to benefit.