My people, make una gather here, e get beta gist wey go land for Kwara State as Federal Government don announce say dem go use am pilot Naija national ranching policy. E no be small matter, this one go sure help boost productivity and fix dat wahala wey dey happen between farmers and herders.
Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, na him drop this yarn on Tuesday when dem gather for high-level meeting for Ilorin. Him talk say, ‘We go start the ranching policy for here for Kwara, we go show say the nomads fit settle down, we go build infrastructure wey go help dem dey one place, make dem dey productive and tackle dat farmer-herder wahala.’
Omo! Maiha no just stop there, him yarn say dem dey touch base with Kwara State Government to set up feedlots wey go allow young pipo bring their bulls, sheep and pigs come there. Him even clear say ranching no be say na only rich pipo fit enter, small-small people fit start with just two goats or na two cows. ‘Abeg, make una no dey look ranching like say na only for big men, e fit work for anybody,’ him talk.
According to him, ‘Think about fodder—na just grass we dey talk. E go beta if we fit plant various grasses for our land here in Kwara. E fit shock you say Qatar and Saudi Arabia dey wan import grass from us for Naija, just grass! Na real opportunity if we fit leverage am.’ Him no lie o!
Maiha come dey vex say poultry business wey dey operate outside formal sector na serious setback for us. Him talk say, ‘Livestock na the major source of animal protein wey we get for this country, and now we don create dis ministry to turn the sector around.’ Na he reason wey dem dey import honey worth N800bn for 2022, despite sey we get beta capacity for local production.
Him don de call for technology-driven farming and strong biosecurity systems, citing Brazil as example. Him talk say if e dey young again, e no go collect government work or follow oil and gas, na agriculture e go pursue, especially livestock matter.
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, wey suppose represent the state, show say their government go support this plan wella. Him assure say poultry production no be just agricultural matter, na food security wahala, job creation for our youths and women.
Alhaji AbdulRazaq make clear say his government go dey create enabling environment wey go allow farmers and investors operate smoothly. ‘We go make sure say our pipo dey trained, dem get beta input, and dem go fit trust the food wey dey enter their table,’ him yan.
Last last, Oloruntoyosi Thomas, wey be Commissioner for Livestock Development, come join matter too, talk say we need empower youths through agriculture because dem no suppose graduate come dey look for work with empty hands again. ‘We go change machine guns to milking machines and tanks to tractors; we go make sure our youths dey involved for livestock and agribusiness,’ na wetin she talk.
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