The Kwara State government, through its Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES), recently conducted a training session for over 200 livestock farmers on biosecurity measures and best practices in farm management. The Commissioner for Livestock Development, Mrs. Toyosi Thomas, emphasized the importance of biosecurity in preventing the spread of infectious diseases and promoting animal health. She noted that the training was designed to equip farmers with practical skills to implement effective biosecurity measures on their farms.
According to Mrs. Thomas, the livestock industry is a critical pillar of Nigeria's agricultural economy, contributing significantly to food security, employment generation, and rural development. However, the sector faces persistent threats from infectious diseases that can devastate herds, reduce productivity, and cause substantial economic losses. She stressed that biosecurity is essential in preventing disease outbreaks and promoting animal health, and that it is far cheaper and more effective to prevent a disease than to treat an outbreak.
The Commissioner highlighted the importance of biosecurity to animal health, noting that a robust biosecurity program protects animal health and welfare, enhances productivity and profitability, reduces production losses due to disease, and minimizes the need for antibiotics and veterinary interventions. She also emphasized that biosecurity measures support udder health in dairy operations, reducing the incidence of mastitis and improving milk quality and yield. Mrs. Thomas advised livestock farmers to invest in infrastructure such as perimeter fencing, vehicle sanitation stations, and quarantine facilities to prevent disease introduction and spread.
The training session covered various topics, including biosecurity infrastructure, Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) development, and institutionalization of biosecurity in livestock farming. The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Livestock Development, Alhaji Yahaya Ahmed, stressed the need for farmers and stakeholders to adopt proper biosecurity measures from production through processing and marketing. He emphasized that institutionalizing biosecurity practices on farms is crucial in preventing disease outbreaks and promoting animal health.
Other speakers at the training session, including Dr. Abdulateef Olugbodun, Director of Veterinary Services in the ministry, and Dr. Aisha Olatunji from the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), noted that poor biosecurity practices have resulted in high mortality, low productivity, and economic losses among farmers. They emphasized the need for farmers to take responsibility for implementing recommended biosecurity measures and for stakeholders to support the initiative.
The L-PRES coordinator in the state, Olusoji Oyawoye, urged participants to make practical use of the knowledge gained from the training and to take responsibility for implementing recommended biosecurity measures. He commended the participants, organizers, Kwara State and Federal Governments, World Bank, and L-PRES for supporting the initiative. The officials encouraged farmers, extension agents, and other stakeholders to take the lessons from the workshop to the grassroots.
The training session is part of the efforts of the Kwara State government to promote livestock productivity and resilience in the face of disease outbreaks and other challenges. The government aims to enhance animal health, improve productivity, and increase economic benefits for farmers and the state through the L-PRES project.
Key points
- - The Kwara State government trained over 200 livestock farmers on biosecurity measures to prevent animal disease outbreaks and enhance productivity. - Biosecurity measures are essential in preventing the spread of infectious diseases and promoting animal health in the livestock industry. - The training session covered topics such as biosecurity infrastructure, Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) development, and institutionalization of biosecurity in livestock farming.
