Netherlands Govt. Approves 400, 000 Euros For Livestock Project In Nasarawa

BY AHMED TUKUR, LAFIA – The government of Netherlands has approved 400, 000 Euros for the Federal Government to embark on the National Livestock Transformation Programme (NLTP) in Nasarawa State.

 This was disclosed by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Sabo Nanono, while on a two-day working visit to Nasarawa State.

Nanono said that with Nigeria having over 33 varieties of livestock ranging from cattle, pigs, poultry, sheep, goats, among others, the country cannot afford to play with these national assets.

He explained that with the world now focusing on agriculture, it has become paramount that the country appreciates the opportunities inherent in the sector, especially that Nigeria’s growing population is pegged at 400m in the next 30 years.

Nanono said his ministry attaches so much importance to Nasarawa State in terms of agricultural development as well as its potentials just as he ranked the state first in terms of diversity of various agricultural products with potentials not only for promoting and ensuring food security in the country, but also for export.

The Minister also announced that Nasarawa State has been selected among states that will benefit from the agricultural mechanization policy of the Federal Government, with the arrangement finalized for the pilot mechanization in 632 LGAs completed.

Nanono said; “Nasarawa State has the potential for creating a strong relationship between agriculture and the industrial sector. And we have already started seeing some signs. And we are going to promote it in that regard”.

He said that as part of the FG’s programme of economic sustainability, N600bn was approved as support for small scale farmers, adding that the Federal Ministry of Agriculture has registered over 78, 000 farmers in the state, with another 23, 000 registered for the dry season farming covering about 2, 400 hectares of land.

The Minister further said that the Federal Government will engage youths in collaboration with universities for the production of export crops, stressing that Nasarawa State has been slated to produce soya beans for export.

Responding, Governor Abdullahi Sule, said the vision of his administration is in line with that of President Muhammadu Buhari, as well as the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, as it relates to food security.