Enugu State Government has embarked on massive training for some livestock farmers in the state on the procedures and use of modern artificial insemination equipment, both practical and theoretical.
The training, which will commence on November 24, 2024, and end on December 9, 2024, at the National Animal Production Research Institute, is one of the mechanisms put in place by the administration of Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah to grow the economy of the state.
Addressing all the prospective trainees on Thursday in the L-PRES office ahead of their takeoff, the State Project Coordinator, Dr. Ifeyinwa Nnajieze, said Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah wants to diversify the state’s economy using the livestock business.
Narrating the importance of L-PRES to the state and why Governor Peter Ndubuisi has invested so much, Dr. Nnajieze said, “L-PRES came to enhance agricultural output in the state,” adding that a lot has been put in place to enhance livestock production in the state.
“We are here to enhance livestock productivity in the state. L-PRES has five components such as Institutional and Innovation System Strengthening, Livestock Value Chain Enhancement, Crisis Prevention and Conflict Mitigation, Project Coordination and Management, and Contingency Emergency Response Components.”
“Enugu State, for a long time, has neglected the livestock sector, and we want to resuscitate, revitalise, and rejig the sector. His Excellency is sending some of us to Zaria to enable us to get the needed training to maximise growth in the sector. We have academics, small and large livestock farmers, civil servants from the Ministry of Agriculture, veterinary doctors, amongst others. All these were selected to ensure that knowledge transfer, sustainability, and records are kept for future exploration. His Excellency is very determined to include all so as to make the aim well-achieved and get people that will act as service providers. These service providers will train others, and so the knowledge will transfer.”
Dr. Nnajieze also urged those who are not interested to withdraw to enable others who are ready to help achieve reasonable results to go.
She also told the participants that the knowledge they gather during the training will help in establishing an AI centre in Enugu State.
Explaining the objectives of the training, the Value Chain Officer of L-PRES Enugu State, Mrs. Mamel-Akpata Chinenyenwa, said the training will boost livestock productivity in the state, adding that maximum application of the skills acquired will grow the state’s economy.
“The training is to arm Enugu-based livestock farmers with the necessary skills that will enable them to manage artificial insemination. This will expose them to AI centre plans and equipment. It will expose them to acquire the required skills for male selection, semen collection, evaluation, processing, and preservation processes. They will also improve their understanding of reproductive biology and breeding management principles, promote proper use and maintenance of AI equipment and supplies, amongst others.”
Addressing the trainees, the Environmental Specialist of L-PRES Enugu State, Dr. Enoch Nnanna, urged the trainees to apply caution in their attire as the weather there is different from what we have here, which could be a serious distraction to them.
He urged all to be mindful of what they wear, as their culture of dress sense differs from ours.
The Permanent Secretary, Enugu State Ministry of Agriculture, Victor Ngwu, said Enugu State is blessed with a governor passionate about building the economy of the state, especially through the agricultural sector. He stated that the vision of moving the state’s economy from $4.4 billion to $30 billion isn’t a joke, as the governor has invested so much in agriculture. He urged all the trainees to imbibe the spirit of seriousness during the training and be able to justify the fees paid to train them, as a lot is expected of them from the state government.
Mr. Ngwu, who is also an agrarian, enumerated the likely take-homes for the participants, noting that they can actually establish their ranches, which will make Enugu a citadel of agriculture in Africa.
