Kwara creates animal breeding unit in livestock development ministry
In a strategic step to enhance climate resilience in the livestock sector, the Kwara State Government has announced the establishment of a dedicated unit within its Ministry of Livestock Development focused on disseminating knowledge on animal breeding. This initiative aims to equip citizens with the expertise needed to develop and adopt climate-resilient breeding strategies in ruminants, with implications for sustainable meat production and economic prosperity.
The announcement was made during the close of a five-day training on Breed Improvement and Climate Resilience in Ruminants, organized under the World Bank-assisted Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (L-PRES) project, in collaboration with the Centre for Dryland Agriculture (CDA). The training brought together 100 participants, adding to a total of over 1,700 individuals previously trained across the state from both public and private sectors.
Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Alhaji Mohammed Yahaya, emphasized the urgency of adapting livestock production systems to the realities of climate change. He noted that livestock, like crops, are increasingly affected by climate-induced stresses, which if unaddressed, could hinder national livestock populations and economic growth.
Highlighting the broader impact of the initiative, Dr. Abdulhakeem Ajeigbe of the CDA, who served as the lead consultant, revealed that beneficiaries of previous training cycles are already commercializing innovations such as salt lick production and crop residue processing. According to him, this signals the early stages of a “silent green revolution” in Kwara’s livestock industry.
Dr. Ajeigbe criticized the current national contribution of livestock to agricultural GDP—less than 30%—as underwhelming, stating that efforts like Kwara’s capacity-building programme are crucial to pushing that figure closer to the expected minimum of 45%. He praised the state’s foresight in aligning with national livestock development priorities and positioning agribusiness as a commercial job-creating sector.
Source: Tribune Online
Expert Review for Agri-Food Stakeholders
Kwara State’s renewed focus on livestock development—through institutional breeding education and hands-on training—marks a progressive shift toward climate-smart animal agriculture. Below are the major strategic insights for agri-food stakeholders:
- Institutional Support for Climate-Smart Livestock
The creation of a livestock breeding unit is more than administrative—it’s a structure that supports knowledge dissemination and innovation adoption at scale, especially for smallholders adapting to climate-induced pressures. - Practical Training Driving Agribusiness Ventures
The commercialization of skills—like salt lick formulation and crop residue feed processing—demonstrates the economic viability of training investments. It reinforces that agribusiness begins with knowledge. - Repositioning Livestock in Nigeria’s Agricultural GDP
The sector’s current 30% contribution to agri-GDP is a missed opportunity. By building local capacities and breeding systems, Kwara is setting a foundation that could help raise national livestock GDP toward the expected 45% benchmark. - Unlocking Job Opportunities Across the Livestock Value Chain
Through value addition and commercial production, the programme is encouraging micro-enterprises and agri-jobs—from breeding service providers to small-scale feed processors—key for youth and rural employment. - Recognizing Livestock in Climate Adaptation Plans
The move to include livestock in climate resilience programming is timely. Drought, disease, and forage stress are real threats, and strategies like genetic selection and stress-resilient breeds are long-term solutions.
Conclusion:
Kwara’s investment in institutional livestock knowledge and commercialization of climate-smart practices serves as a model for agribusiness transformation. For stakeholders, it underscores how well-structured public-sector support can spark innovation, economic gains, and long-term resilience in animal agriculture.
