EKITI AGRIC. COMMISSIONER INAUGURATES TECHNICAL COMMITTEE ON L-PRES PROJECT

By Adesola Adetunji

The Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Hon. Ebenezer Boluwade has inaugurated the State Technical Committee on Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (L-PRES) in Ado-Ekiti .

He admonished members of the committee to utilize their wealth of experience to maximize the greater output in livestock production and value chain for growth and development of the economy of the State.

Speaking at the inauguration of the 11- man State Technical Committee in his office in Ado Ekiti, the Commissioner charged members of the Committee to work diligently in order to achieve the objectives of the project.

He advised the Committee to co-opt members in the Academia and Research Institutes to ensure transfer of innovations and research breakthroughs for development to bear in the LPRES project, which would bring about greater value chain addition not only on livestock farming, but other sectors of agriculture resulting in the increase in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the State.

In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and

Food Security, Engr. Olugbenga Odesanmi who also serves as the

Chairman Technical Committee, highlighted the committee’s role to include resolving conflicts between livestock herders and crop farmers, facilitating improved protein intake through livestock production as well as eradication of diseases that could affect livestock products amongst other roles.

Odesanmi pledged on behalf of other Committee Members that, all problems associated with livestock farming in the State would be solved stressing that the Committee would ensure that slaughtering of animals would be carried out in an hygienic environment.

Members of the State Technical Committee include, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Public Utilities and Infrastructure, Mr. Olumide Ajayi; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Investment, Mr. Oladele Ogunsemoyin; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. Babatunde Alokan and the

Director, Animal Husbandry, Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Adebayo

Alofe.

Others are the Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, Mr. Adeleye Omolade; Director, Veterinary and Fishery services, Dr Osayomi Emmanuel; Director, Agric. Services, Mr. Akintunde Peter Abiodun; Representative of Myetti Allah Association, Alhaji Mohamudu Nasamu and representative of Piggery Farmers Association, Mr. Owoola Daramola.