The Ekiti State government has embraced artificial insemination to enhance livestock production and food security. Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Ebenezer Boluwade, highlighted its potential to revolutionize the livestock industry by improving production, fertility, herd management, and reducing disease transmission.
Speaking on July 16 in Ado-Ekiti during a three-day capacity-building program, Boluwade emphasized that reproductive technological intervention would allow farmers to breed high-quality animals and increase profitability. The program, organized by the Ministry of Agriculture under the World Bank-funded Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (L-PRES) project, aimed to train Extension Agents and Livestock Extension Service Providers.
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Boluwade reiterated the government's commitment to boosting food production, noting that Governor Biodun Oyebanji's administration has provided palliatives to farmers amidst national inflation. He explained that artificial insemination, already successful in the US and Europe, can create jobs, enhance productivity, and transform livestock production dynamics in Ekiti State.
Olayinka Adetipe, L-PRES state project coordinator, added that the workshop was designed to teach participants the basics of artificial insemination, which they will cascade to farmers across the state's 16 local government areas. He highlighted that artificial insemination helps prevent disease spread by eliminating the need for direct contact between male and female animals.
