EKITI L-PRES HOLDS 3 DAY TRAINING ON ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION FOR EXTENSION,LIVESTOCK OFFICERS FROM 16 LGAS
As part of efforts to boost Livestock Production in Ekiti State,the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES) has held a 3 day training programme on Artificial insemination for Extension and Livestock Officers from the 16 Local Government Areas of the State
Speaking while declaring open the training programme in Ado Ekiti, the State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Hon Ebenezer Boluwade said that State government will leverage on Artificial insemination to improve breeding outcomes, enhance livestock genetics, and ultimately boost productivity in the State’s agricultural sector.
He reiterated the commitment of Gov. Biodun Oyebanji led Administration to enhance productivity and improve income generation as well as create jobs for youths and women,through Artificial insemination and other modern agricultural practices.
Boluwade disclosed that the State government through L-PRES Project will establish a modern Artificial Insemination Centre at the Livestock Development Centre, Eriffun, Ado Ekiti.
He therefore urged participants to pay rapt attention to the resource persons stressing that knowledge acquired by participants in the training would go a long in determining the success of the Programme in the State.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Permanent secretary Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security,Engr. Olugbenga Odesanmi appreciated the State government for its commitment to boost livestock Production and ultimately improve the economic well-being of farmers in the State.
He stressed further that State government has implemented various agricultural programmes that would improve productivity in crop production by clearing of land through tractorization , introduction of 50 percent subsidy in prices of farm inputs and taking steps to forster harmony between farmers and herders through the establishment of the State Peace Committee and mediation platform.
In his remarks, the State Project Coordinator L-PRES, Mr Olayinka Adedipe charged participants to utilize knowledge acquired at the training to educate farmers on artificial insemination, a step that will increase animal production in quality and quantity in production and avoid the spread of diseases through sexual intercourse.
In his goodwill message,the Agricultural Development Program Manager (ADP), Alhaji Oladele Yakubu who stressed that technical aspect of the training will enhance animal production charged the Extension and Livestock Officers to educate farmers to improve their yields with the new agricultural practices
Yakubu said that monitoring and evaluation genetic progress over time and Evaluating the effectiveness of breeding strategies would go a long way in achieving the desired objectives.
The Facilitators at the training Mr. Tunmise Olagbaju from Real People Concept, Ibadan and Dr. Clement Osowe from Agricultural Development Program,Akure trained participants on Estrous detection aid, principles of artificial insemination,semen evaluation and quality Control and Semen handling and storage.
Dr. Osowe spoke extensively on reproductive health management, record keeping and data management, principles of genetic selection and breeding objectives, and assisted reproductive technologies
A participant, Mrs. Mary Olagoke who spoke on behalf of others appreciated government for training on the new innovation through Artificial insemination for livestock Production and promised to educate farmers to embrace new technologies that will improve animal breeding and production.
