By Abbas Nazil
The Kwara State Government has vaccinated 132,792 ruminants in a sweeping campaign to prevent the spread of anthrax and safeguard public and animal health, reaffirming its commitment to livestock development and agricultural advancement.
The exercise, which covered 110,241 cattle, 16,009 sheep, and 6,542 goats, was disclosed by the Commissioner for Livestock Development, Oloruntoyosi Thomas, during the state’s quarterly inter-ministerial press briefing for the first quarter of 2025.
Thomas highlighted the state’s intensified focus on livestock resilience and disease surveillance, announcing the launch of a Live Bird Market to support poultry farmers while serving as a strategic point for monitoring zoonotic diseases.
This, she said, reflects the ministry’s broader strategy of establishing a modern, inclusive, and sustainable livestock sector capable of contributing significantly to the state’s economy.
She also revealed that the ministry had presented the results of a recent Cadre Harmonisé food and nutrition security analysis to key stakeholders including ECOWAS and the United Nations through the National Task Force.
According to her, the findings further reinforce Kwara’s efforts to align local interventions with global standards.
In addition to past achievements, preparations are underway for a comprehensive rabies vaccination campaign, aimed at eliminating rabies-related cases from domestic dog and cat bites across the state.
Thomas affirmed the government’s dedication to public health and its determination to fulfill promises under Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq’s administration, which she described as visionary and transformative for the agriculture sector.
In a related update, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Afees Abolore Alabi, announced ongoing collaborations with federal agro-financing institutions, including the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL).
The partnerships are tailored to strengthen support for smallholder farmers, youths, and rural dwellers, aligning national resources with Kwara’s localized agricultural priorities.
Alabi also pointed to the state’s participation in the Renewed Hope Mega Farm Settlement Initiative through deeper engagement with the National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA).
These efforts are complemented by discussions with Contec Global Agro Limited to establish a bio-fertilizer plant and promote backyard farming among women and youths.
To ensure transparency and effectiveness in agricultural input distribution, Alabi noted the formation of a seven-member interim oversight committee tasked with monitoring the delivery of inputs and preventing diversion.
He also cited the successful hosting of the Agro Input Fair as a key milestone, connecting farmers to certified vendors, mechanization services, and climate-smart agronomic advice tailored to each Local Government Area.
With these multi-pronged efforts, Kwara State continues to position itself as a hub of agricultural innovation and resilience, prioritizing livestock health, farmer empowerment, and sustainable food systems.
