The World Bank-assisted Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project has profiled about 32,000 livestock farmers in Niger State as part of ongoing efforts to select and empower beneficiaries under the state’s livestock development plan. The State Project Coordinator, Jiya Danladi Mohammed, confirmed this during an interview with newsmen in Minna, explaining that the profiling is aligned with both state and federal strategies for growing the livestock sub-sector.
He said the targeted farmers are expected to benefit from several interventions designed to improve their businesses. According to him, these include artificial insemination services for cattle and automated, solar-powered chicken processing and packaging hubs for poultry clusters. He noted that the overall goal is to boost productivity, strengthen resilience, and reduce farmer-herder conflicts across communities in the state.
Mr Mohammed said the implementation period for the project is six years for now, adding that it may be extended depending on progress. He explained that each state under the programme is allowed to select its preferred value chains. “For us in Niger State, we are focusing on beef, poultry, sheep, and goats,” he said.
He highlighted some achievements already recorded, including the construction of 19 solar-powered boreholes in communal grazing areas within selected pastoral communities and the procurement of 50 motorcycles for extension agents. Reaffirming the state’s commitment to accountability, he assured the World Bank of proper use of allocated resources and appealed for timely approvals to fast-track key project activities.
