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As parts of efforts to improve animal health and livestock production, a pilot agricultural programme tagged Private Veterinary Service has been launched in Kwara State.
The programme is at the instance of the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project, L-PRES, in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Livestock, Kwara State Government and the World Bank.
In an address at the event, the National Project Coordinator, L-PRES, Abuja, Dr Sanusi Abubakar, explained that ten private veterinarians have been engaged under the programme to bridge the shortage of veterinarians in public service, check losses in livestock production and boost livelihood of farmers.
Dr Abubakar stated that the programme would be replicated in the 13 L-PRES States and that 760 private veterinarians have been engaged alongside their counterparts in the public sector, to serve about eleven thousand cluster communities.
He announced that other LPRES projects in Kwara including a model veterinary hospital is near completion, a Strategic Animal Holding Facility in Baruten has been completed, while a pilot Waste Management Plant in Akerebiata is on-going.
Dr Abubakar also announced that more projects such as animal clinics and storage facility would be established in the State.
The State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mamman Jibril, expressed his commitment to continue to support initiatives that would transform the agriculture sector and address challenges faced by farmers and herders.
Thw National Animal Health Specialist, L-PRES, Dr Mustapha Muhammed said 85 percent of the 13,000 registered vetinarians in Nigeria work in the private sector while only 15 percent of them are in the public service hence the need for a public-private partnership to meet demands for veterinary services in rural communities.
Dr Muhammed announced that a private firm, KPMG, had been contacted for monitoring and evaluation of the Private Veterinary Service programme for improved data collection.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Livestock Development, Toyosi Thomas said over the next two years, thousands of cattle would be targetted for artificial insemination for improved breeds, while water and capacity training on feeds production are being provided in pastoral communities as parts of efforts to improve livestock productivity and job creation.
Mrs Toyosi who affirmed that the Government had renovated slaughter slabs, trained meat handlers on hygiene practices, and established coldroom storages at abattoirs, expressed optimism that the efforts would improve livestock production.
In an address, the State Project Coordinator of L-PRES, Mr Olusoji Oyawoye affirmed that timely access to reliable animal healthcare providers would not only prevent loses but also complement the agency’s efforts to improve animal breeds, quality feeds, as well as provision of water and pasture.
Mr Oyawoye listed achievement of L-PRES in Kwara to include the vaccination of about 250 thousand animals; construction and rehabilitation of 67 solar powered livestock water points, and development of 24 climate -resilient livestock facilities.
In separate remarks, the Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria, Dr Samuel Anzaku, represented by Abdulkareem Durosinloun, and the President, Veterinary Council of Nigeria, Professor Mathew Adamu, urged the ten private veterinarians engaged under the programme to discharge their duties with utmost professionalism and abide by the Memorandum of Understanding to avoid sanctions.
One of the ten beneficiaries, Dr Saka Jimoh Shittu, Managing Director of Whitewood Veterinary Ventures Ltd, commended L-PRES, Ministry of Livestocks, the Federal and State Government and development partners for the initiative and called for its sustainability.
Participants at the event called for strict monitoring of services provided by the private veterinarians and the use of equipment given.
Items distributed to the beneficiaries include motorcycles, injectables, consumables, refrigerators, and portable medicine coolers.
There were goodwill messages from local government chairmen, traditional rulers, livestock farmers associations, fulani community, and other relevant institutions.
