By Talatu Maiwada

The Adamawa Ministry of Livestock and Aquaculture Development, in collaboration with Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (L-PRES) project, has commenced training of 120 farmers on modern livestock management and climate change.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that L-PRES is a six-year development project funded by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS) and the World Bank.

Mr Tijjani Marksha, Commissioner for Livestock and Aquaculture Development, made this known on Wednesday, in Yola during a training workshop on Production and Technology Adoption Survey and Analysis.

Marksha, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Malam Suleiman Mohammed, commended L-PRES for its impactful and transformative initiatives.

“L-PRES is doing excellently well, and we appreciate their efforts in training our farmers to enhance livestock productivity in the state.

“This is the eighth in a series of workshops held this year, as knowledge remains crucial to achieving sustainable development.” he said

The commissioner also acknowledged the support of Gov. Ahmadu Fintiri in ensuring the successful implementation of the project in the state.

Also speaking, the Adamawa State Project Coordinator L-PRES, Mr Alfa Secondee, said the initiative aims to improve livestock productivity across the state.

“Globally, knowledge is key to achieving any developmental strides.

“That is why it is important to train and retrain our farmers to meet the key performance indicators of the L-PRES project,” Secondee said.

He explained that participants would be trained on modern technologies, including the use of smartphones to monitor climate change and its impacts on livestock productivity.

According to him, of the 120 participants, 21 are Divisional Livestock Officers from each local government area, including personnel from livestock pasture development units and local farmers.

In his remarks, Dr Ibrahim Bayaso, the lead facilitator, said the training was designed to build farmers’ capacity in climate change adaptation, mitigation, and resilience strategies.

“It is important to note that livestock and agriculture contribute to greenhouse gas emissions through fertiliser use and animal waste.

“In Nigeria, we must embrace sustainable land management by applying technology in land clearing, planting, fertiliser application, and livestock handling,” he said.

Bayaso emphasised the need for farmers to transition from traditional grazing practices, which deplete animals’ energy and negatively impact milk production, soil, and vegetation.

He urged participants to adopt a change in mindset to enhance livestock productivity and environmental sustainability, through technology.

A participant, Mrs Glandu Sajo, Divisional Livestock Officer (DLO) for Fufore LGA, lauded L-PRES for the training, describing it as timely and impactful.

“We have learned a lot about climate change in relation to livestock production; this workshop has been life-changing and it will certainty improve our productivity,” she said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Deborah Coker

By Dorathy Aninge

Dr Raymond Asemakaha, Managing Director, Benue Investment and Property Company Limited (BIPC), says that the newly established BIPC Juice/Concentrate Factories will curb post-harvest losses of orange and mango farmers.

Asemakaha stated this on Wednesday in Makurdi during a technical assessment of the newly installed 62,000-litre capacity juice/concentrate machine.

The managing director said the initiative aligns with Gov. Hyacinth Alia’s administration’s economic agenda, which focuses on reviving industries, agricultural value chain and sustainable job creation for the people.

“The concentrate factory will commence operations officially on July 2, while the main juice production line is scheduled to take off in September.

“We are committed to leveraging the state’s abundant agricultural produce to stimulate industrial growth and reduce waste.

“It is also to provide employment opportunities, as this factory is a testament to our dedication to building a productive and self-reliant Benue.

“Producers of orange and mango would be supplying directly to the company from September at the industrial layout in Makurdi.

“I am using this opportunity to call on orchard farmers to increase their production,” he said.

Mr Frank Runge, Managing Director of SONO Group, who conducted the assessment, expressed satisfaction with the level of readiness and quality of machinery installed at the factories.

Runge pledged SONO Group’s continued technical support to ensure a seamless take off and sustainable operation of the facilities.

SONO Group Limited is a multinational firm known for its expertise in industrial-scale juice processing, operations and machinery management.

“We are pleased with what we’ve seen so far; the infrastructure is solid, and we believe that once operations begin, BIPC’s facilities will stand as a model for agro-processing in West Africa,” he stated.

Mr Henry Boager, the maintenance officer of BIPC, carried out a detailed walkthrough of the facility and showcased the various components of the processing lines.

Boager took the team round the facility from the fruit intake stations to extraction, filtration, concentration, pasteurisation and packaging units.

The maintenance officer also demonstrated the technical capacity of the equipment, which he said can boost a production output of 62,000 litres of processed juice per hour.

“Every piece of equipment here has been selected to ensure we can process large volumes within tight timeframes, as this is key to preventing fruit spoilage and enhancing profitability for our local farmers.

“The machines are designed to minimise waste, maximise yield, and operate at high efficiency.

“The factory is a major milestone in the ongoing efforts to industrialise the Benue agricultural sector,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited Peter Amine