L-PRES

By Uzair Adam

The Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES), in collaboration with the Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN), has rewarded outstanding participants at the end of its North-West Regional Capacity Building Programme in Kano, following a competitive assessment designed to test their knowledge of financial management and business practices.

The programme, which focused on bridging the livestock agribusiness finance gap, concluded on Friday with participants drawn from Kano, Kaduna, Sokoto and Zamfara states.

Speaking at the closing session, the Capacity Building Manager of DBN, Fortune Tamunokuro Granville, said the assessment was conducted to evaluate participants’ understanding of key training modules, particularly financial literacy and financial management.

He explained that the test, which comprised 50 multiple-choice questions, was aimed at ensuring that livestock entrepreneurs acquire the knowledge required to formalise their businesses and become eligible for funding.

“The essence of the programme is to ensure access to credit for livestock farmers, and that can only happen when they understand financial management and properly structure their businesses,” he said.

Granville noted that the process was transparent, as scripts were independently marked without interference from project officials.

According to him, the top-performing participants from each of the four states received grants of one million naira each to support their businesses.

He added that two female participants who emerged among the highest scorers were also awarded N250,000 each, in line with DBN’s commitment to gender inclusion.

“In total, we had six winners. This is to encourage them to apply what they have learned and continue improving their businesses,” he said, adding that the bank is also considering a mentorship programme to support beneficiaries beyond the training.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the Kano State Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dr. Bashir Sunusi, who represented the Commissioner, Dr. Danjuma Mahmud, said the workshop had provided a platform to address critical financing challenges affecting the livestock sector.

He noted that discussions during the programme highlighted the need for stronger collaboration among government, financial institutions and private sector actors to unlock opportunities across the livestock value chain.

Sunusi reaffirmed the commitment of the Kano State Government under Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to supporting agricultural transformation and creating an enabling environment for agribusinesses to thrive.

“The insights generated here must be translated into concrete actions that will benefit farmers, processors and other stakeholders,” he said.

On their parts, some of the participants described the training as impactful, noting that it had equipped them with practical knowledge to improve their businesses.

One of the winners, Dr. Mu’iz Bakari from Kaduna State, expressed gratitude for the opportunity, saying the training had exposed him to better ways of managing and expanding his livestock enterprise.

“What we have learned will be applied directly to our business. We will correct our mistakes and expand, especially in poultry production,” he said, adding that the grant would be used to grow his farm and create employment.

Similarly, Usman Abdullahi Usman from Kano State said emerging among the top participants out of over a hundred attendees was both surprising and motivating.

“This support will help me expand my business and should encourage others to take such opportunities seriously and work hard,” he said.

Other winners include Nasiru Lawal from Sokoto State and Idris Umar from Zamfara State, while the additional female awardees are Fatima Sani from Sokoto and Hafsat Ololade Akin from Kaduna.

The programme brought together stakeholders across the livestock value chain, including farmers, financial institutions and development partners, as part of efforts to improve access to finance and promote sustainable agribusiness growth in the region.

By Uzair Adam

The Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES) says it is working to bridge the financing gap in Nigeria’s livestock agribusiness sector by connecting small businesses with financial institutions through capacity-building programmes.

Officials of the project disclosed this on Wednesday at the ongoing Regional SMEs/PFIs Capacity Building Programme on “Bridging the Livestock Agribusiness Finance Gap: Building Capacity for Inclusive Growth,” which started on Monday in Kano.

The programme, supported by the World Bank and the Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) brought together participating financial institutions (PFIs), livestock-based small and medium enterprises (SMEs), insurance firms and other stakeholders from Kano, Kaduna, Sokoto and Zamfara states.

Speaking at the event, the National Project Coordinator of L-PRES, Dr. Sanusi Abubakar, represented by the Value Chain Consultant, Heather Ronke Akanni, said the initiative was designed to expose financial institutions to opportunities in the livestock sector and help SMEs become investment-ready.

She explained that the livestock sector had long faced financing constraints due to limited documentation, weak business structures and perceived risks by financial institutions.

“Before now, the livestock sector has not been looked into so much, so banks and financial institutions were reluctant to finance livestock farmers,” Akanni said.

According to her, the programme provides a platform for SMEs and PFIs to engage directly, exchange ideas and better understand opportunities across livestock value chains, including production, processing, packaging, input supply and advisory services.

She added that similar regional engagements had already been held in the South-East, South-West and North-East, while the North-Central programme would be concluded in Kwara State.

Akanni stressed the need for SMEs to maintain proper financial records and separate personal and business accounts to improve access to credit.

“Some SMEs mix their private accounts with business accounts, making it difficult for banks to assess their businesses properly. Now they understand that business transactions should be clearly documented,” she said.

She further noted that some financial institutions had begun to show renewed interest in livestock financing after direct engagement with farmers under the programme.

“In Enugu, a pig farmer who had struggled for years to secure a loan eventually attracted the interest of banks after they visited his farm during the programme,” she added.

The State Project Coordinator of L-PRES in Zamfara State, Nasiru Muhammad, represented by the Animal Health Officer, Dr. Muktar Salihu Anka, said the project had made steady progress despite starting later than other participating states.

He explained that L-PRES had supported livestock farmers through capacity building, veterinary interventions, poultry development and infrastructure projects aimed at improving production systems.

“This workshop is going to bridge the gap between farmers and the PFIs because many livestock farmers have been asking questions about access to loans,” he said.

Also speaking, the Kaduna State L-PRES Coordinator, Dr. Shitu Salisu Hashim, described the training as essential in addressing concerns from financial institutions regarding livestock lending risks.

He said banks often worry about disease outbreaks, lack of collateral and weak cooperative structures among farmers.

“The importance of this training cannot be overemphasized because it balances the relationship between farmers and PFIs,” Hashim said.

He added that the programme introduced an Impact Credit Guarantee mechanism to reduce collateral challenges faced by farmers.

“If the collateral requirement is 100 per cent, the Impact Credit Guarantee can provide up to 70 per cent, while the farmer provides the remaining 30 per cent,” he explained.

Hashim also noted that the inclusion of non-interest financial institutions was expanding access to finance for livestock farmers in Northern Nigeria.

Representing the Kano State Project Coordinator, Dr. Salisu Muhammad Inuwa, Abubakar Muhammad Kabiru, Animal Husbandry Officer of L-PRES, said participants were taken on a field visit to key livestock value chain facilities in Kano State.

He said the team visited L&Z Company in Kumbotso Local Government Area, Milk Collection Centre in Kadawa, Garun Malam Local Government Area, Dawakin Kudu Cooperative Society Limited, and the International Cattle Market.

Kabiru explained that the visits were designed to expose participating financial institutions to real-life livestock business operations.

“We wanted the PFIs to see the opportunities available and understand how these businesses operate so they can confidently support beneficiaries with loans,” he said.

He added that SMEs from Kano, Kaduna, Sokoto and Zamfara participated in the programme to improve their capacity to access and manage financing.

One of the participants, Hajiya Halima Ahmad, said the programme had changed the mindset of many women in livestock business regarding access to loans.

She said many women previously avoided banks due to concerns over interest rates and limited knowledge of financial documentation.

“I have been in the poultry business for over 25 years, but I have never gone to a bank to request a loan,” she said.

“Most of the factors stopping us were the issue of interest because of religious implications. But this training has equipped us with the necessary skills on documentation and business management.”

She added that the presence of non-interest banks at the programme had encouraged participants to explore financing opportunities for business expansion.

By Uzair Adam

The Kano State Coordinating Office of the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES), a World Bank–supported programme, has commenced a two-day training for 200 livestock extension agents and advisory service providers on modern livestock production strategies.

The training, which began on Tuesday at the Kadawa Mechanisation Institute in Garun Malam Local Government Area, is aimed at equipping extension agents to support the adoption of improved breeds through selection, breeding and artificial insemination techniques, as well as the proper management of forage resources and feed formulation.

In his welcome address, the State Project Coordinator of L-PRES, Dr. Salisu Muhammad Inuwa, described the training as a strategic step towards transforming the livestock sector in Kano.

He said the project aims to increase productivity, strengthen resilience, and promote sustainable practices that would uplift farmers and improve livelihoods.

Dr. Inuwa was quoted as saying,“You, the extension officers, are the bridge between research, policies, innovations, and the farmers in our communities.

The knowledge and skills you gain here will help our livestock keepers adopt improved breeds, better management practices, and modern feeding techniques.”

Speaking on behalf of the state government, Dr. Bashir Sunusi, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, who represented the Commissioner, Dr. Danjuma Mahmood, said Kano has invested heavily in agriculture, including the recruitment of over 1,000 extension workers and expansion of irrigation facilities.

He noted that extension agents remain the frontline soldiers of agriculture and urged participants to take the training seriously.

“Extension work is not theory; it is practical. When extension agents are well trained and equipped, they can support farmers to achieve higher yields, improved livestock production, and better access to markets,” Sanusi said.

Also speaking, Gambo Isa Garko, an extension officer with L-PRES, said the project is expected to transform livestock production in the state, particularly in meat, milk, and poultry output.

He added that the initiative would also establish livestock centres where farmers can access feed, veterinary services, and advisory support.

According to him, L-PRES is building a database of livestock farmers through profiling, which will enable targeted interventions.

“We are going to transform Kadawa into a practical school for livestock where farmers will learn from one another through farmer-to-farmer interaction, which makes adoption of new practices easier,” he explained.

Speaking on behalf of the participants, Ibrahim Adamu Aliyu commended the organisers for providing what he described as a timely and practical training.

He said the knowledge gained will enhance their capacity to deliver advisory services to farmers more effectively.

“This training is equipping us with modern techniques that will help us address the challenges faced by farmers, especially in adopting improved breeds, better feeding systems, and disease control measures.

“We are committed to taking this knowledge back to our communities and ensuring that it translates into tangible results for farmers,” Aliyu said.

The training includes lectures on extension strategies and models for reaching farmers, livestock production and breeding, artificial insemination, animal feed formulation, and pest and disease control, among others.