By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini
Gombe State Government under the L-PRES Project has distributed 800 kilograms of fodder seeds and shrubs materials to livestock farmers to encourage the production of pasture for livestock feed in the state.
The intervention targeted verified livestock farmers with 20 different varieties of fodder seeds and shrubs materials across the 11 local government areas of the state.
Distributing the materials on behalf of the L-PRES Project Coordinator Professor U.B. Abubakar, the Animal Health Officer to the Project Dr. Mohammed Umar Yuguda charged the beneficiaries to ensure optimal use of the materials provided to enhance the quality and nutritional content of livestock feed.
He said the fodder seeds when planted have the capacity to produce large quantities of feed with high nutritional value that can be used and preserved as supplementary feed during the dry season for improved production of beef and dairy products.
Speaking on the essence of the intervention, the Animal Husbandry Officer to the Project Mohammed Bukar Gadam said, plans are also underway to provide crop residue crushing and fodder chopper machines to livestock cooperative societies in the state.
He highlighted that the project is in the process of turning waste into wealth with the introduction of such facilities farmers will through their cooperatives process and package animal feed thereby reducing wastage of crop residue and further increase the rate of consumption in livestock which he said would increase both the quantity and quality of beef and dairy produced by their livestock.
In a vote of thanks on behalf of the beneficiaries theChairman Koutal Hore Socio Cultural Association Gombe State Branch Ardo Chindo Abubakar expressed appreciation to Gombe L-PRES Project for its numerous support programs to livestock farmers in the state.
He commended the State Governor Alhaji Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya for his laudable initiatives to transform the livestock sector into a modern industry and assured the project of their continuous support achieve its objectives.