YOSG, ABU established NAPRI outreach station In Damaturu

YOSG, ABU established NAPRI outreach station In Damaturu

By: Yahaya Wakili

Yobe State Government in collaboration with Ahmadu Bello University Zaria has established National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI) North East OutReach station in Damaturu, the Yobe state capital.

This was disclosed by the Commissioner Ministry of Agriculture, Dr Mairo Ahmed Amshi while briefing Journalists on the achievements of the ministry at the NUJ Secretariat, Damaturu.

She said, Yobe state has 135 veterinary surgeons and 47 animal scientists with five equipped veterinary clinics, one each in a zonal office as well as 17 area veterinary/livestock offices across the state.

Dr Mairo Ahmed Amshi further said Yobe state has come up with an Agricultural policy which supports both livestock and other agricultural sectors.

“This could be one of the reasons the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) collaborated with Yobe state set up three Livestock Development Centers (LDC) one each in a senatorial zone of the state.” Dr Amshi said.

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According to her, the state government has already provided some structures such as earth dams, boreholes, veterinary clinic, primary school for herders children, dispensary, feedlot,feed mill, artificial insemination centers, fish ponds, milk collection centres, access road among others.

“The main reason for establishing the centres is to provide utmost security, minimize herders movement from one place to another, minimize farmer herder conflicts, improve livestock value chain, dairy industry and revenue generation for the state.

“The Yobe state government has placed emphasis on the dry season, therefore, the ministry of Agriculture has procured 3,000 metric tons (100 Trucks) of NPK 20: 10: 10 fertilizer valued at #1.5billion to boost irrigation farming in the state.

She revealed that the distribution and sales of fertilizer are currently going at a subsidized cost of #13,000 per bag through open market sales to the general public and allocation to Local Government Areas, Ministries, Agencies, Farmers Cooperative Societies, Large Scale Farmers etc.

The Commissioner maintained that, in the year 2019 the ministry has purchased forty units (40) of Merssey Ferguson Tractors (MF375) Valued at #882,000,000 and these tractors were given out to large scale farmers in the state as loan at a subsidized price of #11,025,000 without any interest payable within four years.

“All this is to improve farmer capabilities towards productive land restoration amid Covid-19 in Nigeria, adding that, the ministry is also in collaboration with the National Animal Research Institute is working towards the establishment of an outreach station for the entire North East region.

YOSG, ABU established NAPRI outreach station In Damaturu