Kano Govt Earmarks N160m To Vaccinate 1.8m Livestock

The Kano State Agro-pastoral Development Project, KSADP, says it will spend about N160 million to vaccinate 1.8 million goats and sheep in its livestock vaccination campaign in different parts of the state. This is contained in a statement by Mr Ameen Yassar, the Project Communication Specialist, in charge of the project in Kano on Wednesday. Yassar said that the project was being funded by the Islamic Development Bank and the Lives and Livelihood Funds, aimed at enhancing livestock health and improve livelihoods of herders and livestock breeders. The statement added that the Project Coordinator, KSADP, Malam Ibrahim Muhammad, disclosed these during the kick-off of community sensitization to the exercise in Kura, near Kano. ” The project is determined to upscale the vaccination because livestock health is tied to your livelihoods, and by extension our economy. “The objective of this interaction is to enhance vaccination and to seek cooperation of all stakeholders so that the exercise succeeds,” he added. Muhammad said the organization had embarked upon several projects, including the upgrade and equipping of Kadawa Artificial Insemination Centre, construction of milk collection centres, upgrade of cattle markets and crop residue utilization Programme, to improve the livelihood of the herders. “We shall soon award contract for demarcation of stock routes in Kano, which is major step towards ending conflict between farmers and herders in Kano,” he said. The District Head of Kura, represented by Alhaji Balarabe Muhammad, disclosed that no outbreak of livestock diseases had been reported in the area in the past three years due to consistent vaccination carried out by the KSADP. He therefore directed village heads and herders’ community leaders in his domain to fully mobilise for the forthcoming vaccination in view of its importance. In his comments on behalf of herders’ communities in Kura Local Government Area, Malam Zubairu Muhammad said they were familiar with livestock vaccination, having benefitted in the past three years, assuring that there would be no resistance to the exercise. “We have seen the impact of the vaccination conducted in the past, so we appreciate the Islamic Development Bank and the LLF for their untiring support,” he said. Also, the Zonal Veterinary Director for Rano Zone, Dr. Idris Ibrahim, who underscored the importance of the vaccination, suggested that livestock vaccination campaign should include rabies vaccination, since the herders also possessed livestock guard dogs. 

NAIC urges livestock farmers to embrace insurance amid Anthrax threat

The Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC) has issued a call to livestock farmers, urging them to consider obtaining agricultural insurance coverage as a safeguard against the impacts of the anthrax disease. In a statement released in Lagos at the weekend, Mrs. Folashade Joseph, the Managing Director of NAIC, emphasized that their insurance offerings also extend to encompass emerging risks within the agricultural value chain. Joseph expressed apprehension about the prevalence of anthrax disease and the detrimental consequences it inflicts on the income of livestock farmers. She also highlighted the potential risk to fellow Nigerians who might inadvertently be affected by the disease, whilst extending her sympathies to livestock farmers who have been negatively impacted by the reported occurrences of anthrax disease in the country. Highlighting the corporation’s responsibility, Joseph stressed that providing insurance solutions to mitigate agricultural hazards stands as one of its core mandates. According to her, NAIC, which is fully owned by the Federal Government, aims to support farmers and agricultural enterprises in safeguarding their operations and livelihoods. Joseph further directed the attention of farming communities and entrepreneurs to the imminent threat of floods across the nation, emphasizing the significance of adhering to best practices in addressing this challenge. She emphasized that availing NAIC’s agricultural insurance coverage ensures a safety net for those who experience losses, enabling them to recover and prosper despite adversities.