<p>By Becky Momodu<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><strong>The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development has trained 200 sheep and goat farmers in Kano State on improved livestock production practices as part of efforts to boost productivity&comma; strengthen food security and create sustainable livelihoods&period;<&sol;strong><&sol;p><p class&equals;"ari-link"><strong>Read also&colon;<&sol;strong> <a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;sparknewsdaily&period;com&period;ng&sol;nigerias-foreign-affairs-minister-unveils-focus-of-india-talks&sol;">Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister Unveils Focus of India Talks<&sol;a><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>The three-day training&comma; held from September 17 to 19&comma; brought together beneficiaries from Fagge&comma; Tarauni and Gwale Local Government Areas&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><img class&equals;"alignnone size-medium wp-image-19243" title&equals;"IMG-20260923-WA0268" src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;sparknewsdaily&period;com&period;ng&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;IMG-20260923-WA0268-300x225&period;jpg" alt&equals;"IMG 20260923 WA0268" width&equals;"300" height&equals;"225" &sol;><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>The participants were trained in animal management&comma; feeding&comma; breeding&comma; healthcare and other husbandry practices aimed at improving livestock productivity and reducing losses&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Speaking at the programme&comma; the Permanent Secretary of the ministry&comma; Dr Chinyere Ijeoma Akujobi&comma; represented by the Director&comma; Department of Ruminant and Monogastric Development&comma; Victor Egbon&comma; said livestock development went beyond providing farmers with animals&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>She stressed the importance of equipping farmers with the knowledge and skills required to manage livestock effectively and maximise the benefits of government interventions&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Akujobi said the sheep and goat subsector remained important to Nigeria’s livestock economy because small ruminants were accessible to many households&comma; required relatively modest start-up investment and provided meat&comma; milk&comma; skin and other products that contribute to household nutrition and income&period;<&sol;p><p class&equals;"ari-link"><strong>Read also&colon;<&sol;strong> <a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;sparknewsdaily&period;com&period;ng&sol;akpabios-wife-explains-reasons-for-visiting-senate-chambers&sol;">Akpabio’s Wife Gives Reason for Visiting Senate Chamber<&sol;a><&sol;p><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>She said the ministry considered small-ruminant development a strategic component of efforts to enhance food security&comma; generate employment&comma; reduce poverty&comma; promote women’s economic participation&comma; support youth entrepreneurship and diversify the economy&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>According to her&comma; the training combined theoretical sessions with practical demonstrations on feeding&comma; breeding&comma; animal health and general husbandry to enable beneficiaries improve animal health&comma; productivity and income&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>The Permanent Secretary&comma; Kano State Ministry of Livestock Development&comma; Hajiya Rabi Ibrahim Waya&comma; commended the Federal Ministry for the intervention&comma; saying the state government would undertake similar initiatives to strengthen livestock production&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Waya said the state would continue to explore opportunities to help farmers apply the knowledge and productive inputs provided to build sustainable economic activities&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>The programme also featured contributions from the National Sheep and Goat Development Association of Nigeria &lpar;NASHGODAN&rpar; and Africa Women in Animal Resources&comma; Farming and Agribusiness Network&comma; represented by Aisha Maidawa&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>One of the beneficiaries&comma; 33-year-old Afrahsiyya Idris&comma; a person living with disability&comma; was among the participants&comma; highlighting the potential of livestock farming to provide inclusive livelihood opportunities&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p class&equals;"ari-link"><strong>Read also&colon;<&sol;strong> <a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;sparknewsdaily&period;com&period;ng&sol;apc-mourns-passing-of-administrative-officer-mrs-veronica&sol;">APC Mourns Passing Administrative Officer&comma; Mrs Veronica<&sol;a><&sol;p><p>At the end of the training&comma; the 200 beneficiaries received sheep and goats&comma; animal feeds and stipends to support them in applying the skills acquired&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>The ministry said the intervention was expected to improve beneficiaries’ farming activities&comma; increase household income and contribute to higher sheep and goat production in Kano State&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;

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