The Ekiti State Government through the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (L-PRES) Project has announced plans to establish a commercial goat farming hub in Otun Ekiti. The initiative is aimed at boosting livestock production, particularly the sheep and goat value chain, and improving the livelihoods of rural farmers in the State.
The project, supported by the World Bank, falls under the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (L-PRES) framework designed to enhance goat production, promote agribusiness, and strengthen the goat value chain in Ekiti State.
Speaking during a stakeholders’ meeting in Ado-Ekiti, the State Project Coordinator for L-PRES, Mr. Olayinka Adedipe, explained that Otun Ekiti was strategically selected for the hub. According to him, the location was chosen based on the volume of business transactions on sheep and goat, both within and outside the State, and the existence of formidable sheep and goat clusters in the town.
Adedipe noted the importance of modernising the goat market in Otun Ekiti. He explained that doing so would expand livestock business in a hygienic environment, attract more participation, and lead to income and revenue generation for both the people and the government. He added that the hub would serve as a model for modern goat farming practices, offering a training and production centre where farmers could gain access to improved breeds, veterinary services, and modern husbandry techniques.
In his remarks, the Oore of Otun Ekiti and Paramount Ruler of Moba Kingdom, HRM Oba Adekunle Adeagbo, expressed gratitude to the State Government for siting the project in his community. Oba Adeagbo pledged the support of the traditional institution to ensure sustainability and ownership of the hub, noting that the initiative would open new economic opportunities for farmers and youth in the area.
Also speaking, the Value Chain Officer for L-PRES, Mrs. Adenike Omoleye, said the goat hub would not only enhance productivity but also provide farmers with access to veterinary services, input supply, and structured markets. She emphasised that the project would strengthen market access and increase income for goat farmers in Ekiti State.
Omoleye further highlighted that women and youth would play a central role in the project’s implementation. She added that the goat hub would serve as a central point for aggregation, processing, and distribution of goat products within and outside the State, while linking farmers to both local and international markets.
The sheep and goat value chain forms part of the broader L-PRES programme, which is supported by the World Bank, Federal Government, and Ekiti State Government to boost livestock production, build resilience against climate change, and ensure sustainable livelihoods in Nigeria.