The Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde has been commended by the World Bank and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security through the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES) for his efforts and commitment towards enhancing livestock production in the state.
Makinde received the commendation at a two-day livestock production stakeholders’ engagement by the World Bank Task Team and the National Coordinating Office on the L-PRES Support Mission to Oyo State held at the International Conference Center, University of Ibadan.
The event is targeted at the implementation of a $500 million World Bank Project by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to improve productivity, commercialization and resilience of livestock value chain.
The stakeholders that were hosted by Director General of Oyo State Agribusiness Development Agency (OYSADA) and Chairman of L-PRES in Oyo state, Dr. Debo Akande and the state Project Coordinator of L-PRES, Mr. Kola Kazeem were taken to a livestock production hub at Fashola Farm Oyo to access the state government’s commitment in livestock production (dairy and beef production).
The National Project Coordinator, Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES), Sanusi Abubakar, while speaking with journalists shortly after a field trip to Fashola Farm Settlement in Oyo town said that the project is a continuation of the implementation support mission having been to other states such as Bauchi, Gombe and Enugu States.
Abubakar further said, “We have the mandate of the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyiari to hasten up the implementation of this livestock programme in Nigeria, that is why we are going round for the implementation mission.
“We are here in Fashola Farm, a renowned place for livestock breeding and commercialization of the livestock value chain that has been here since 1968, and we are impressed with what is happening here.
“We went to sites where they are training stakeholders on artificial insemination, livestock and pasture centers and are impressed with what is happening here and thankfully, Oyo State is one of the states that is participating in this project and we are here to see how we can support the state.”
While expressing satisfaction with the level of arrangements by the Oyo state government, Abubakar stressed that the state government has provided the enabling environment for investors to invest in livestock production.
“It is what we are encouraging, because when you create a conducive environment, investors will come and funds will come to our nation generally.
“The Oyo State model of livestock production is similar to the livestock service centers where a lot of activities in livestock production and commercialization is going on.
“We have some places that are earmarked as Livestock Service Center and Oyo state is one of those states that have keyed into the project and I think they can further enhance this place and move forward,” Abubakar said.
The State Project Coordinator of L-PRES, Mr. Kola Kazeem said that the mission of the project implementation team is to lend support to Oyo State in livestock production and development.
“The teams from 16 states of the country were in the state to witness what the state governor, Seyi Makinde has embarked on in agricultural production and agribusiness development.”
According to him, Fashola Farms is a signature project for Oyo state and for other states to emulate noting that “when we talk of livestock centers, you cannot find this kind of arrangement that we have in Fashola agribusiness hub in any other place”.
“Livestock Service Center is a concept which has not been implemented, what we have is what was done by past leaders like Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Sardauna of Sokoto and others, Oyo State have upgraded what they have done and that is why everybody here is fascinated with what they have seen.”
Kazeem urged investors to take advantage of the enabling environment provided by the state government in Fashola, adding that the Seyi Makinde led administration has a one region, one Agric hub policy.
He disclosed that other agric hubs are currently being established at Ijaye for Ibadan zone, Eruwa, Ibarapa zone and others at Oke-ogun and Ogbomoso zones.
“OYSADA under the leadership of Dr Debo Akande is blazing the trail and we are happy that we have achieved so much for the state, there are lessons learnt here which will make the implementation faster in other zones,” Kazeem said.
The Special Adviser to Oyo State Governor on Agribusiness, International Cooperation and Development, Dr. Debo Akande, in his remarks, said the state has enormous potentials in livestock production, saying that L-Pres is prepared to support the efforts of the state government to bring foremost acknowledgement of livestock rearing value chain, not just for cattle but also for poultry, piggery and other livestock sectors in the state.
“We are bringing back the glory of livestock production in Oyo state, the project will in the mid, short and long terms have a major impact on the agricultural value chain especially in the livestock industry.”
Akande assured that the challenges faced by livestock farmers in the state will be addressed by the state government through the support of the L-PRES and the World Bank.
The OYSADA Director General advocated for the incorporation of young men and women in the agricultural sector just as he expressed hope that the project will transform the Livestock industry in the country.
“We are hoping that this is going to be an all encompassing system, where we will look at new actors in the livestock sector, women and young people.”
“Let us see how best we can incorporate young people and women in this project and I believe that is going to create the kind of sustainability required for the project.
“Let us not just leave the status quo as usual the way it has been, they have always say you cannot continue to do the same thing over and over again and expect a difference in the result you will be getting.
“For us in Oyo state, we understood too well that the current actors in the agricultural sector generally have done well but you cannot use the same system you are adopting when your population is 60 million to when your population is going to 200 million most particularly when those actors are getting old.
“We need to challenge ourselves and look at what we are doing whether it is the usual or we are ready to bring a paradigm shift.” Akande advised.
In attendance at the two-day livestock production stakeholders engagement are representative of the World Bank, led by the Senior Agriculture Economist (SAWA1), who also doubles as the World Bank’s L-PRES Task Team Leader (TTL), Dr. Manievel Emmanuel Sene, Co-Task team leader/ Agric Economist L-PRES, World Bank, Chidozie Anyiro, the Special Adviser to the Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Popoola Mustapha Ayo and the Executive Director/CEO Development Bank of Nigeria, Mrs. Ijeoma Ozulumba.
The program also had in attendance the State Project Coordinators (SPCs) in the entire beneficiary states as well as stakeholders in the livestock production sector.
The L-PRES with the support of the World Bank is to create the enabling environment including provision of infrastructure for investors in the livestock value chain in Oyo State.
Packaged by Adekunle Adegboyega
