The National Project Coordinator of the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (LPRES) project, Sanusi Abubakar, has expressed satisfaction with ongoing livestock development projects in Ondo State, describing them as “excellent” but with room for minor improvements.
Speaking in Akure during a zonal technical mission covering Oyo, Ondo, Ekiti, Edo and Kwara states, Abubakar said the team had completed the theoretical segment of its work and was on a tour of project sites for peer-learning and review.
“We have toured Igbara-Oke veterinary clinic, the poultry production unit, the farmer field school, and now the livestock market to see sheep and goats,” he said. “So far, it’s fine. We have excellent work in Ondo State, but as a technical team we may see one or two things to correct and that’s what we are doing.”
He explained that the team which includes animal health specialists, engineers and technical operations managers is focusing on improving areas such as ventilation and specification standards. “It’s only about improving what they have already done,” he noted.
According to him, the amendments identified will not derail the project’s schedule. “They will soon finish because they have their timeline. As a World Bank project we have our start and finish dates, and they are doing well,” he said.
Abubakar urged prospective beneficiaries and stakeholders to take ownership of the facilities once completed. “If we finish this market, it’s no more our market again. It’s the market of the livestock farmers. They should take care of it, take ownership and support the government and everyone that has contributed,” he said.
He added that the LPRES project operates on four main components institutional spport and system strengthening, livestock value chain enhancement, crisis prevention and conflict mitigation. The activities inspected in Ondo State fall under the commercialization and livestock value chain enhancement components, including pasture development, farmer field schools, poultry production and veterinary services.
“Our advice is to link these activities with the livestock farmers and let them take ownership,” Abubakar said. “We are satisfied with what we have seen.”
In his remarks ,the Ondo State Project Coordinator of the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (L-PRESS) project, Olufemi Adeogun , said the project will boost livestock farming to achieve food production and sustainability.
Adeogun assured farmers that they will soon begin to reap the benefits of the World Bank assisted initiative as construction of key facilities nears completion.
He noted that the tour made was aimed at demonstrating to residents, particularly farmers, that the project is active and progressing in Ondo State.
“With what we have seen this morning — the cool chain facilities and the veterinary clinic at Igbara-Oke — farmers can utilise these centres for their own benefit,” he said. “Here at the sheep and goat market, farmers will be able to display their goats for sale.”
Adeogun disclosed that while the L-PRESS programme itself has a six-year lifespan, the physical projects currently under construction are on a much shorter schedule. “Within six months we are able to deliver,” he stated.
He urged farmers and other stakeholders to embrace the project and prepare to take advantage of its opportunities. “My message to the people of Ondo State, especially farmers, is that they are going to benefit from L-PRESS as we proceed with our activities in the state,” he said.