By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
The Kogi State Government has distributed motorcycles and veterinary kits to livestock workers across the state to enhance mobility, strengthen animal health services, and boost overall livestock productivity.
The initiative, executed through the Kogi State Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (Kogi L-PRES), saw the distribution of 21 motorcycles to livestock extension agents in the 21 local government areas. It also included 1,000 livestock extension manuals for farmers across 64 livestock value chain clusters in the state.
In addition, veterinary medical equipment—comprising laboratory tools, meat inspection kits, ambulatory kits, and surgical kits—were handed over to the Department of Veterinary Services, Ministry of Livestock Development, to improve animal disease diagnosis, veterinary service delivery, food safety, and security in Kogi State.
Speaking during the flag-off ceremony in Lokoja, the Commissioner for Livestock Development, Dr. Olufemi Bolarin, said the distribution was part of activities preceding a one-day stakeholders’ engagement on effective livestock extension and advisory service delivery.
He urged beneficiaries to utilize the equipment strictly for livestock value chain development and not for personal or commercial gain.
“The economic strength of any nation depends on its level of agricultural transformation, which remains the bedrock of socioeconomic growth and job creation,” Dr. Bolarin stated.
The commissioner emphasized that the initiative aligns with Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo’s commitment to empowering rural farmers and improving the agricultural sector through modern livestock management practices.
Earlier, the State Project Coordinator of Kogi L-PRES, Mr. Otaru Abdulkabir, commended the adoption of the Farmer-to-Farmer Extension and Advisory Services model, describing it as a significant milestone in the state’s livestock development efforts.
He noted that extension services in the state have now gone digital, with livestock workers using KoboTool, a data collection software, to capture and analyze real-time field data for improved decision-making.
According to Abdulkabir, the collaboration between Kogi L-PRES and the Kogi Agricultural Development Project (KADP) has yielded positive outcomes that are reshaping livestock productivity and resilience in the state.
“The partnership has changed the narrative of livestock extension delivery in Kogi State, and we are committed to sustaining these achievements for years to come,” he said.
Abdulkabir also expressed appreciation to Governor Ododo for providing the enabling environment for L-PRES to thrive, assuring that the program will continue to support livestock farmers across the state with innovation-driven solutions.
The Kogi L-PRES initiative is part of a broader effort to strengthen livestock production systems, enhance veterinary services, and improve food security and income generation among rural households.
