Kogi L-PRES Launches Statewide Artificial Insemination Campaign to Improve Livestock Productivity and Farmers’ Income
By Stephen Adeleye
Kogi L-PRES has launched a statewide awareness campaign for its Mass Artificial Insemination Programme aimed at improving livestock breeds, increasing meat and milk production, enhancing food security, and boosting farmers’ incomes across the state.
The Kogi State Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (Kogi L-PRES) has commenced a statewide awareness campaign ahead of the implementation of its Mass Artificial Insemination (AI) Programme, a strategic initiative designed to improve livestock breeds, increase productivity and strengthen food security across the state.
The five-day sensitisation exercise, which began on Monday in Lokoja, will run through July 24, bringing together livestock farmers and stakeholders from various livestock value chain clusters to educate them on the benefits and implementation of modern breeding technologies.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, the Kogi State Commissioner for Livestock Development, Dr. Olufemi Bolarin, described the programme as a major step towards modernising livestock production in line with the agricultural transformation agenda of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo.
According to the commissioner, artificial insemination provides livestock farmers with access to improved genetics capable of increasing milk yield, accelerating animal growth, reducing disease transmission and lowering the overall cost of production.
He noted that the state government, through Kogi L-PRES, has put in place technical support systems, including trained professionals and continuous capacity building, to ensure the successful adoption of the technology by farmers.
“Our objective is to raise healthier animals, improve productivity and increase the earnings of livestock farmers. With proper training and technical support, livestock producers in Kogi State can become more competitive within the national livestock industry,” Bolarin said.
The State Project Coordinator of Kogi L-PRES, Mr. Otaru Abdulkabir Onoruoyiza, explained that the programme seeks to address long-standing challenges confronting the livestock sector, including poor breeds, low productivity and limited access to modern breeding technologies.
He said the initiative would provide participating livestock farmers with superior genetic resources and technical support capable of improving meat and milk production, reproductive performance, growth rates and disease resistance.
According to him, the intervention aligns with the objectives of the L-PRES Project as well as the Kogi State Agricultural Development Plan, both of which prioritise increased productivity, resilience, value addition and improved income for farmers.
Onoruoyiza disclosed that the first phase of the programme will involve 1,500 cattle and 500 goats, using both conventional and sexed semen.
He explained that livestock farmers already profiled under the L-PRES Project would be eligible to present between three and five animals each for the artificial insemination exercise.
To ensure effective implementation and sustainability, he said Kogi L-PRES has engaged Genedxx Nigerian Limited to provide artificial insemination inputs and specialised technical support throughout the programme.
He further revealed that the project has commenced the construction of three Livestock Improvement and Breeding Centres (LIBCs), with one centre located in each of Kogi State’s three senatorial districts.
According to him, the centres will serve as permanent facilities for continuous breed improvement and ensure that artificial insemination services remain available to livestock farmers beyond the lifespan of the current intervention.
The project coordinator encouraged livestock farmers across the state to embrace artificial insemination, noting that the technology has been successfully deployed worldwide to improve herd quality, reduce production challenges and increase profitability.
He expressed appreciation to Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for his continued support for agricultural transformation and livestock development, while also acknowledging the contributions of development partners and stakeholders working to ensure the successful implementation of the project.
“Our goal is to build a more productive, resilient and commercially viable livestock sector capable of meeting the growing demand for quality animal products while improving the livelihoods of farmers,” he said.
Also speaking at the event, the Chairman of the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA), Kogi State Chapter, Dr. Tolu Omotugba, commended Kogi L-PRES for engaging qualified consultants to implement the programme.
He noted that the adoption of ranching practices would further enhance the effectiveness of artificial insemination and maximise the long-term benefits of the initiative.
One of the participating livestock farmers, Saidu Liman, welcomed the programme, describing it as a timely intervention that would improve livestock quality, increase meat and milk production and raise the market value of livestock products.
He pledged to mobilise fellow farmers to participate actively in the programme and thanked both the Federal and Kogi State Governments for prioritising livestock development as a means of improving livelihoods and strengthening food security.
The Mass Artificial Insemination Programme is one of Kogi L-PRES’ flagship interventions aimed at repositioning the livestock sector through modern breeding technologies, increased productivity and sustainable agricultural development.