The Ekiti State Government has unveiled a bold plan to transform its livestock sector by targeting 200,000 farmers for commercial livestock production through the World Bank-backed Livestock Productivity and Resilience Enhancement Scheme (L-PRES).
The initiative is expected to create over 1.5 million jobs and bolster food security across the state.
According to the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Ebenezer Boluwade, the project focuses on four key livestock value chains: dairy/beef, sheep/goat, piggery, and poultry.
He noted that the L-PRES initiative will improve productivity, strengthen resilience against disease and climate shocks, and drive the adoption of modern technology.
Read also:
Currently being implemented across 16 local governments in Ekiti, the project includes cluster formations, mass extension services, and collaboration with academic institutions.
L-PRES coordinator Olayinka Adedipe highlighted that the state's involvement is part of a national goal to support over 1.4 million farmers, with Ekiti contributing 200,000 to that number.
The initiative marks a major policy shift toward livestock development, as Nigeria traditionally emphasized crop production, noted James Ogunloba of Synergy Impact Consultant Ltd.
