AfDB Donates Kits, Motorcycles To Livestock Trainees

The African Develop
ment Bank (AfDB) supported Community-Based Agriculture Development Project (CBARDP) has donated artificial insemination kits and motorcycles to 15 trainees from Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Kaduna and Kwara states.
Speaking at the occasion in Bauchi, Alhaji Ibrahim Arabi, the Project Coordinator, explained that the 15 artificial inseminators, three from each state, were trained to provide livestock artificial insemination services to their various communities.
Arabi said that improving the production capacity, using this technology, had become necessary following the low level of milk and meat production of local breed.
“If our local breeds are improved, it will improve the milk, meat and other dairy products supply, to meet the protein needs of Nigerians, ‘’ he said.
Arabi said that the project was part of the agricultural production outreach programme for crops and livestock of the AfDB supported CBARDP in the five project implementation states.
According to him, the measure is also aimed at providing the needed expertise to the indigenous people, with a view to sustaining the programme after the expiration of its mandate in December 2013.
‘’These trainees are expected to continue providing artificial insemination services to their communities, with a view to sustaining the project for continuity.
‘’That is why today, we are empowering them with 15 artificial insemination equipment and 15 motorcycles, to enable them go back to their communities and provide the services.
“Under the livestock development outreach programme, we procured a consultant and signed a contract of N53 million with NASRU Nigerian Ltd., to inseminate 500 cattle, that is, 100 in each of the participating states.
‘’They have also trained 45 pastoralists on powder production, utilisation and conservation. They also trained animal community health service providers for the benefit of our livestock farmers,” Arabi said.
The coordinator explained that the CBARDP, which also included capacity building and community development, was worth 20 million dollars.
He said that the project was funded by AfDB, with contributions from the Federal Government, the five participating states, the 45 participating local governments and 135 benefitting communities.
Arabi called on the participating states, local government areas and the communities, to give the necessary support to the inseminators, to enable them carry out their task for improved livestock production in the country.
He thanked the participating states for the prompt payment of their counterpart fund for the past eight years.
The Director, Bauchi Green House of the Federal Alhaji Mohammed Yusuf, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, in his speech,  called on farmers to embrace the technology, which he said, had the potentials of enhancing the production capacity of their cattle.
Speaking on behalf of the trainees, Dr. Yusuf Azare, thanked the AfDB-CBARDP for the gesture, promising that they would be committed in discharge of their responsibilities.