News in brief: The Kwara state government and French government have signed an MOU for the livestock projects. It aims to enhance milk and meat production, improve animal health, and develop the Lata grazing reserve.
Kwara state government and the French government signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on livestock projects called Special Livestock Processing Zone (SLPZ). The partnership includes an innovation hub for sharing knowledge and development of the Lata grazing reserve.
The project aims to improve milk and meat production as well as marketing these products. It will also improve animal health and productivity through improved feeds and water.
Located in in Baruten local government area (LGA) of the state, the reserve occupies about 20,229 hectares. In January 2023, French ambassador Emmanuelle Blatmann said that 10 private companies will be investing in the project.
At the MOU signing, French Minister of State for Development, Francophonie and International Partnerships, Dr. Chrysoula Zacharopoulou, represented France. She mentioned that, Emanuel Macron, France’s president, has a strong affection for Nigeria and share similar values for human capital development with Kwara state’s government.
“We want politicians to be involved and develop what is called a people-to-people relationship,“ Zacharopoulou said in a statement.
The Kwara state government plans to develop Special Agro-Processing Zones (SAPZ) on the reserve, of which the SLPZ is a component. Besides the private sector investors, the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) are also partners on the project.
Speaking about the MOU signing, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq said that the state plans to employ innovation to improve agriculture yield. He hopes the technology will attract youth to the sector as well.
As the governor said, the reserve was established nearly sixty years ago. However, it has not seen optimal activities.
Likely, lack of investments and public-private sector collaborations have affected it. Not to forget, Kwara state has seen some clashes between farmers and herdsmen which have further discouraged advancements. AbdulRazaq adds that development will help check the conflicts.
