Kano State Agro Pastoral Development Project (KSADP), has trained 220 Community Animal Health Workers to enhance access to quality veterinary services across the state.
This is contained in a statement by the project’s Communication Specialist, Ameen Yassar, on Saturday in Kano.
He said the workers were trained by KSADP with funding from the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), Lives and Livelihood Funds (LLF).
He said that the exercise was conducted in collaboration with Smartex Global Resources Ltd.
The statement quoted Dr Garba Saleh, KSADP’s Livestock Specialist, as saying that the training exercise was designed to expose the Community Animal Health Workers to veterinary techniques in line with international best practices.
“The expected outcomes from the training include improvement of animal health and maximising animal products, growth of income generation from livestock, better access to markets and eventually, securing the livelihoods of pastoralists and rural dwellers,” Saleh said in the statement.
The statement also quoted the KSADP’s State Project Coordinator, Malam Ibrahim Garba, as saying that the gestur was to make veterinary services available at the grassroots, adding that efficient extension service delivery required private sector involvement.
The Coordinator said that the workers were expected to link breeders to animal insemination services, connect pastoralists to vet clinics even as they would be mentored and guided by professionals, employed by the State Ministry of Agriculture.
The statement further quoted the Permanent Secretary, Kano State Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Alhaji Balarabe Karaye, as saying that the workers would be supervised by veterinarians to assist in periodic livestock vaccination campaigns.
“For quality assurance of their services, KSADP would register them with the Veterinary Council of Nigeria to enable them to get professional practice license.”
The statement said the workers had been provided with a starter park including protective clothing, tool and cold boxes, assorted drugs and branded hand bags, adding that they were expected to offer services for a fee, thus, enabling them to get some income and restock.
NAN reports that KSADP is being implemented with the support of IsDB, LLF and the Kano State government.
It is aim to contribute towards poverty reduction, strengthening food and nutritional security of the state by transforming the agro-pastoral production system.
