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From Magnus Eze, Enugu
The Enugu State Government is sponsoring the training of some livestock farmers in the state on the procedures and use of modern artificial insemination equipment.
Permanent Secretary of the State Ministry of Agriculture, Victor Ngwu, was upbeat that the trainees could actually establish their own ranches on completion of the training.
Daily Sun gathered that the training, which commenced on November 24, at the National Animal Production Research Institute, Zaria, Kaduna State, would end in December.
He noted that the training was one of the mechanisms put in place by the administration of Governor Peter Mbah to grow the economy of the state.
He further said the state was blessed with a governor that is passionate about building its economy, especially through the agricultural sector. According to him, the vision of moving the state’s economy from $4.4 billion to $30 billion was not a joke, as the governor has invested so much in agriculture.
He urged the trainees to be serious with the training so as to justify the fees paid to train them, adding that a lot was expected from them by the state government.
State Project Coordinator of the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES), Dr. Ifeyinwa Nnajieze, who addressed the prospective trainees ahead of their departure for the training, said the governor was committed to diversifying the state’s economy using the livestock business.
“We are here to enhance livestock productivity in the state. L-PRES has five components, such as institutional and innovation system strengthening, livestock value chain enhancement, crisis prevention and conflict mitigation, project coordination and management, and contingency emergency response components.
“Enugu State, for a long time, has neglected the livestock sector, and we want to resuscitate, revitalise, and rejig the sector. His excellency is sending some of us to Zaria to enable us to get the needed training to maximise growth in the sector. We have academics, small and large livestock farmers, civil servants from the Ministry of Agriculture and veterinary doctors, among others. All these were selected to ensure that knowledge transfer, sustainability, and records are kept for future exploration. His excellency is very determined to include all so as to make the aim well-achieved and get people that will act as service providers. These service providers will train others, and so the knowledge will transfer.”
Nnajieze told the participants that the knowledge they gained during the training would help in establishing an artificial insemination centre in the state.
Value Chain Officer of L-PRES Enugu State, Mrs. Mamel-Akpata Chinenyenwa, said: “The training is to arm Enugu-based livestock farmers with the necessary skills that will enable them to manage artificial insemination…”
This will expose them to AI centre plans and equipment. It will expose them to acquire the required skills for male selection, semen collection, evaluation, processing, and preservation processes. They will also improve their understanding of reproductive biology and breeding management principles, promote proper use and maintenance of AI equipment and supplies, among others.”
