Ondo Trains 1,000 Livestock Farmers on Modern Techniques
No fewer than 1,000 livestock farmers in Ondo State have been trained on modern farming techniques and record keeping to boost livestock production in the state.
The Coordinator of the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project, Olufemi Adeogun, disclosed this at the first graduation ceremony of the L-PRES Farmers’ Field School held in Akure.
Adeogun said the beneficiaries, drawn from the 18 local government areas of the state, underwent a six-month training programme covering three major livestock value chains—poultry, sheep and goat, and pig production—as well as processing.
According to him, the training was designed to equip farmers with practical skills that would enable them to collaborate and transform livestock farming into a more productive, profitable and climate-resilient sector.
He noted that the programme reflects the global shift away from crude agricultural practices, stressing the need for farmers to adopt modern technologies and improved management methods.
Adeogun also highlighted several interventions being implemented under the World Bank-assisted L-PRES project in the state. These include the construction of artificial insemination centres, veterinary hospitals, cold chain facilities, livestock markets, hatcheries and bio-digesters.
He expressed confidence that the project would significantly transform the livestock sector in the state before the expiration of its six-year intervention period.
Adeogun commended the administration of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for ensuring the state’s participation among the 20 implementing states by promptly approving the counterpart funding required for the project.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Forestry, Leye Akinola, congratulated the beneficiaries for their commitment to the training and urged them to share the knowledge gained with other farmers in their communities. He was represented by the Director of Animal Husbandry Services in the ministry.
Akinola reiterated the commitment of the state government under Governor Aiyedatiwa to continue collaborating with development partners such as the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project to ensure farmers have access to training, improved technologies, inputs and market opportunities.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Laolu Akindolire, represented by the Director of Technical Assistance and Aid Coordination in the ministry, Abiola Olumide, urged the beneficiaries to apply the knowledge gained during the training to improve productivity.
Similarly, a representative of the Project Manager of the Ondo State Agricultural Development Programme, Kayode Adekunle, encouraged the farmers not to treat the training as a mere academic exercise but to translate it into practical results.
Responding on behalf of the participants, a pig farmer, Abiodun Fasoro, expressed appreciation to the project for the support and knowledge provided, noting that it would help improve livestock production in the state.
Certificates and basic farming tools were presented to the participants to support them in applying the skills acquired during the training.
