By Rotimi Odofin
LOKOJA — The Kogi State Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES) has commenced a statewide awareness campaign ahead of the implementation of a Mass Artificial Insemination (AI) Programme aimed at improving livestock productivity, enhancing food security, and increasing the incomes of livestock farmers across the state.
The five-day sensitisation campaign, which began on Monday in Lokoja, will run until July 24, targeting livestock farmers across various value-chain clusters.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, the Commissioner for Livestock Development, Dr. Olufemi Bolarin, described the initiative as a major step in Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo’s drive to modernise livestock production and transform the agricultural sector.
According to him, artificial insemination offers significant advantages over natural breeding by providing access to superior genetics that improve milk production, accelerate animal growth, reduce disease transmission, and lower production costs for farmers.
“We are providing technical support through trained technicians and capacity building to ensure farmers succeed with this new technology. Our goal is to produce healthier animals, increase productivity, and improve the incomes of livestock farmers across Kogi State,” he said.
The State Project Coordinator of Kogi L-PRES, Mr. Otaru Abdulkabir Onoruoyiza, said the programme was designed to address the persistent challenges of poor breeds, low productivity, and limited access to modern breeding technologies in the livestock sector.
He explained that participating livestock farmers would benefit from access to superior genetic resources and professional technical support capable of improving meat and milk production, enhancing reproductive performance, accelerating growth rates, and increasing the economic value of their animals.
Onoruoyiza disclosed that the first phase of the programme would cover 1,500 cows and 500 goats using both conventional and sexed semen, adding that only livestock farmers profiled under the L-PRES project would be eligible to present between three and five animals each for the exercise.
To ensure sustainability, he said the project had engaged Genedxx Nigerian Ltd to provide artificial insemination inputs and technical services, while construction had commenced on three Livestock Improvement and Breeding Centres (LIBCs)—one in each senatorial district—to domesticate artificial insemination services and promote continuous breed improvement.
He noted that the initiative aligns with the L-PRES Project Development Objective and the Kogi State Agricultural Development Plan, both of which prioritise improved productivity, resilience, value addition, and increased earnings for livestock farmers.
The project coordinator expressed appreciation to Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for his unwavering support for agricultural transformation and livestock development, while also acknowledging the contributions of development partners and other stakeholders to the successful implementation of the project.
He urged livestock farmers to embrace the technology, stressing that artificial insemination has been globally recognised as an effective strategy for improving herd quality, increasing productivity, and boosting profitability.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA), Kogi State Chapter, Dr. Tolu Omotugba, commended Kogi L-PRES for engaging competent consultants for the programme and emphasised that ranching remains critical to maximising the benefits of mass artificial insemination.
A livestock farmer, Saidu Liman, described the initiative as timely, saying it would significantly improve the quality and market value of meat and milk produced in the state.
He pledged to mobilise other livestock farmers to participate in the programme and commended both the Federal and Kogi State Governments for prioritising livestock development as a strategy for improving livelihoods and strengthening food security.
