TheCable

The Nasarawa state government is set to implement the federal government’s national livestock transformation plan (NLTP).

NLTP is a 2018 initiative proposed by Audu Ogbeh, minister of agriculture, and adopted by the National Economic Council (NEC) headed by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo.

Nasarawa, Plateau, Gombe and Adamawa have been earmarked for the pilot phase of the project, which seeks to end the farmers/herders crisis in the country.

In a statement, Andrew Kwasari, senior special adviser to President Muhammdu Buhari on agriculture, said the federal government has committed €400,000 to implement the project.

The president’s aide, who led a team from the federal ministry of agriculture and rural development and the project for agricultural coordination and planning (FMARD-PACE) to Nasarawa, said the visitation was to “review in particular the project appraisal document for the start-up site, and ensure that the state team is clear on the roles and responsibilities of the senior management team of the state livestock transformation office and the project office”.

“On the back of the MoU signed during the state visit of Mr. President to the Netherlands, the Dutch Investment Agency (RVO) approved a grant of about 400,000 euros to cover 50 percent cost of the pilot start-up of NLTP model in Nasarawa state for 30 pastoralist households, with a start date of March 2021,” he said.

“Cownexxion (the lead consultant in this bilateral collaboration, leading the Dutch Consortium; the Holland Dairy House Group) will serve as technical partner for the implementation of the NLTP pilot ranches in four states: Nasarawa, Adamawa, Plateau and Gombe.

“In each of these states, a pilot farm, which will also serve as a training centre, will be developed. Cownexxion is a leading Dutch consultancy focused on dairy farming. It has carried out projects in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.

“The company is experienced in improving technical and economic performance of dairy farming systems. The focus of the two-and-a-half-year project will be on feed production, transfer of knowledge and skills, plus the transformation of management. Cownexxion will work together with the Nigerian federal and state teams, led by Dr. Andrew Kwasari.”

In his remarks, Emmanuel Akabe, Nasarawa state deputy governor, expressed optimism about the project.

“We are quite enthusiastic about this programme starting in Nasarawa state. We feel it is a great honour that Nasarawa state was picked to pilot this project,” he said.

“We, as a state, have resolved not only to be in charge but also in control. We want to own it and make Nasarawa an envy of other states, because we are supposed to showcase not only Nasarawa state, but the whole of Nigeria.”

TheCable had published an explainer on the national livestock plan, which can be found here.