Kwara to empower 160 poultry farmers

As part of effort geared towards curbing protein deficiency and ensuring food security in Kwara State, the State government has concluded plans to engage and empower 160 poultry farmers for production of over two million broiler chickens per annum.

The production of over two million broiler chickens, according to the official statement, would be undertaken by 160 poultry farmers, to complement effort of other farmers that are not under the scheme, but working as breeders and producers of livestock produce in the state.

Anu Ibiwoye, special adviser to Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed on Agriculture, said while speaking at Kwara Poultry Farmers Forum that production of chickens and other livestock would boost Kwara state’s economy and ensure food sufficiency

According to him, the initiative would primarily serve as a panacea for bridging the protein deficiency in the nation and more importantly, empowering local citizens and support food security drive, not only in Kwara state but also in the country at large.

“It is an incontrovertible fact that agriculture has come not only to play a key role in the nation’s economy, but a key driver of the Nigerian economy and a major tool for poverty reduction, wealth creation and employment generation,” he said.

Ibiwoye stressed that agricultural sector is fast becoming one of the most feasible and viable sector that could save the nation from the prevailing precarious situation of the dwindling resources available to tiers of government resulting from the crash of revenue coming from the oil sector.

“As much as we desire to have balanced diet for a healthy living, it’s important to note that the source of a balanced nutrient is a complementary effort of both our crop and livestock farmers. This implies that we must recognize and support our livestock farmers as much as we do for the crop farmers,” he further said.

“The need to do that has informed the need to identify, mobilize, educate and empower our livestock farmers as part of the active players in the agricultural sector,” Ibiwoye noted.

Speaking earlier, Shola Oyeniran, assistant general manager sales South -West, AMO Farms Nigeria Limited, noted that the programme was to empower the farmers on profitable poultry farming, urging Nigerians, especially youths, to go back to farm with a view to bridging the gap of unemployment in the country.

Also speaking, Tope Amujo, the coordinator of Kwara Agro Mall, said the programme was to ensure capacity building on poultry farming; sensitisation on best management practices; linking poultry farmers to markets as well as identification of poultry farmers for empowerment.

SIKIRAT SHEHU