Over 330,000 cattles, goats and sheeps have been earmarked for vaccination against anthrax disease across sixteen local government areas of Kwara state.
Speaking at the stakeholders engagement on the state wide mass anthrax vaccination campaign organised by Kwara state Livestock Productivity Resilience Support Project (L-PRESS) in collaboration with the state ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazq said the essence of the exercise is to protect the animals from sudden death.
Represented by the state Commissioners for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs Oloruntoyosi Thomas, the governor advised herders and those keeping small ruminate animals to present them for the vaccination.
He allayed their fear that the vaccines are safe and would not cause any harm to their animals.
Governor AbdulRazq said the initiative is part of the state government support to all agric value chain to ensure food security.
He said the state government would carry them along on issues that concerns their animal health .
Governor AbdulRazq urged them to ensure peaceful coexistence with the crop farmers in the state.
He also advised them to give constant feed back to government on areas they require support.
In her remarks the permanent secretary Kwara state Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs Funke Shokoya appealed to the herders to guide their animals against destroying farm land while grazing them.
She said the state government would also intervene in the areas of provisions of water, pasture development, among others to support them.
In his address the Sarkin Fulani of Kwara state, Alhaji Adamu Mahmud commend the state government for the initiative.
He said the herders would continue to support policies and programmes of government that are aimed at bringing development to the people.
In her presentation, the officer in charge of animal health, Dr. Richard Bukola said anthrax disease is very dangerous to both human and animal health.
She advised the herders to ensure vigilance and report any sign of disease noticed in their animals to the authority for prompt action.
Earlier in his address of welcome, Kwara state coordinator, Livestock Productivity Resilience Support Project (L-PRESSt) Mr Olusoji Oyawoye said the stakeholders engagement would give the herders opportunity to know the risk in preventing their animal from vaccination.
He said the exercise would be carried out in their locality at no cost.
