Ekiti State Launches Ambitious Livestock Development Plan, Targets 200,000 Farmers

In a strategic move to reposition the livestock industry and boost agricultural prosperity, the Ekiti State Government has announced its intention to engage over 200,000 farmers in commercial animal agriculture and create more than 1.5 million indirect employment opportunities under the World Bank-supported Livestock Productivity and Resilience Enhancement Scheme (L-PRES).

The announcement was made during the opening session of a five-day Productivity and Technology Adoption Survey training workshop held in Ado Ekiti. Delivering remarks on behalf of the Honourable Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Ebenezer Boluwade, the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mr. Ebenezer Ojo, emphasized that this initiative will drive productivity, innovation, and commercialization within key livestock value chains.

Targeted Livestock Value Chains

The project prioritizes four major value chains:

Cattle (Dairy and Beef)
Sheep and Goats
Pig Farming
Poultry (Egg and Broiler Production)

These value chains were selected for their potential to enhance food security, generate income, and strengthen climate resilience among rural farmers.

According to Mr. Boluwade, “The livestock sub-sector holds vast untapped potential in Ekiti. Through L-PRES, we’re adopting forward-thinking strategies to modernize animal production systems and build resilience against economic and environmental shocks.”

A National Effort with Local Impact

The L-PRES project is being rolled out across 20 states in Nigeria, with support from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security. It aims to benefit 1.43 million livestock producers nationwide, with a strong emphasis on gender inclusivity, ensuring that at least 30% of the beneficiaries are women.

In Ekiti, the program is operational in all 16 local government areas and includes:

Cluster development
Farmer training and extension services
Use of digital tools for data collection and technology adoption
Strong collaboration with research institutions and development partners

Mr. Olayinka Adedipe, the State Project Coordinator for L-PRES, noted:

“Ekiti alone is aiming to transform 200,000 farmers into commercial livestock producers. The ripple effect of this effort could generate over 1.5 million indirect jobs across processing, logistics, feed production, and marketing.”

Nigeria’s Shift from Crop to Livestock

For decades, agricultural interventions in Nigeria have predominantly centered around crop production. However, this initiative marks a paradigm shift as the country now begins to prioritize livestock farming as a strategic path toward economic empowerment, food sufficiency, and climate-smart agriculture.

Mr. Ogunloba James, representing Synergy Impact Consultant Ltd, highlighted:

“This is the first time the country is strategically focusing on livestock as a national agenda. It is a welcome development that promises to revolutionize our food systems.”