About N74 million naira, has been released by The Islamic Development Bank, (IDB), in conjunction with the Lives and Livelihood Fund, (LLF) to purchase vaccines and other consumables for Mass Livestock Vaccination Campaign in Kano state.
This was contained in a press statement signed by the project communication specialist of Kano Agro- Pastoral Project, Aminu Yassar, said the fund was apportioned through the Islamic Solidarity Fund ISFD, the poverty alleviation arm of the Islamic Development Bank Group, daily times reports
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According to him, the money was released to the Kano Agro-Pastoral Development Project, KSADP, for the vaccination of cattle, sheep and goats against major diseases challenging their productivity and health.
“Livestock health and productivity are serious concerns in not only Kano but the whole of Nigeria. This problem indicates that the country imports 60 per cent of its milk requirement, implying that local production cannot meet up with demand”
“At the moment, Nigeria’s milk and dairy products importation stands at about 1. 5 billion USD, which is presumably as result of the prolonged neglect of the livestock sector by successive governments” He said.
According to the statement, Governor Ganduje, who Flagged off the vaccination excercise at Dansoshiya Grazing Reserve, Kiru local government area, said:
“I must emphasize that besides playing a major role in protecting animal health and reducing their suffering, this vaccination is an issue of serious public health concern because it prevents animal to human transmission of diseases and enables efficient production of Halal animal-derived food products to feed our growing population”.
,He said, “we must remain committed to securing the health of our animals because research has shown that milk and meat provide a vital source of nutrition for the populace, especially vulnerable groups such as children and sick people”.