The Kogi State Livestock Production and Resilience Support Project, (Kogi L-PRES) has expressed it’s willingness to Collaborate with the Confluence University of Science and Technology, (CUSTECH) Osara, on the Commercialization of Pasture Production in the Ivory tower.
The Kogi L-PRES team gave this indication during a visit to the Vice Chancellor, Confluence University of Science and Technology, (CUSTECH), Engr. Prof. Abdulrahman Asipita Salawu.
According to the Information, Public Relations and Protocol Unit of CUSTECH, Osara, this visit is part of the project strategic engagement with relevant partners to advance discussions on the commercialization of pasture production for export under a Public, Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.
In his opening remarks, the State L-PRES Project, Coordinator Otaru Abdulkadir Onoruoyiza gave a draw down of the partnership with CUSTECH, intimating the Vice Chancellor, Engr, Prof Salawu with the purpose of the visit which includes assessing the 50 hectares of land site and its suitability for pasture development.
According to Onoruoyiza, the benefit of the initiative includes improved productivity in the livestock sector to ensure Food Security; reducing Farmers/Herders Conflict; source of Employment to the Youths; Generating income and enhancement of means of livelihood, amongst others.
In her contribution, a member of the team and Value Chain Consultant of the L-PRES Project, Ms Healther Ronke Akani emphasized that the initiative was capable of enhancing the nation’s Foreign Exchange earning, while also helping to reduce the level of insecurity in the land.
She appealed for cooperation for the successful implementation of the programme.
In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor, commended the Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo for ensuring the enabling environment for the implementation of the L-PRES Project in the state through the provision of 100 hectares of land by the Confluence of Rivers Osara and Oro for the development of the pilot scheme.
According to him, the scheme will not only be beneficial to the project but to the Agricultural Science students of the University thereby making it a win-win situation for CUSTECH as Resource Owners.
Present at the visit is the Managing Director/CEO of Commodities Development Initiative, CDI, Dr Roland Oroh as well as other Value Chain Cluster Coordinators.
Kogi L-PRES is a World Bank Assisted Project.