By Hussaina Yakubu
Kaduna – Kaduna State Government on Monday said it would spend N15 billion on the construction of Household milk farms in Damau, Anchau Local Government Area.
Gov. Nasiru el-Rufai, who disclosed at a meeting with members of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) in Kaduna, said the project would be executed in collaboration with Arla foods.
He said that the money would be spent on the programme which will cover 1, 000 herdsmen.
el-Rufai, represented by his Senior Adviser, Jimmi Lawal, said the initiative was to proffer solutions to the multifaceted problems associated with nomadic pastoralists.
He said the goal was to develop a world class grazing reserve to enable government centralise activities of herdsmen in one community.
The governor said the project would reduce importation of milk product, ensure self sufficiency and food security in milk and beef.
“We believe that their lives are important as the rest of us as the life of a commissioner,’’ he said.
He noted that the government is for all and there is the need to empower the people to achieve the best in their endeavours.
el-Rufai said that the programme would stop herdsmen from roaming about, create employment and stop the importation of meat and milk.
“The programme is costing the government N15 billion in the first phase. We had to borrow N10.5bn out of the money from the Central Bank as government guaranteed the repayment of the money.
“It means per person, the government is spending N15 million per herdsman that is going to be settled in that programme
“As part of the N15 million to be spend on each of the herdsmen we will be looking for those who will have their own cattle for the first time.
“Each will have between 12-15 cattle each and will have at least N1.5 million as working capital.
“There will also be a two bedroom farm house at about N2.5 million that each of the herdsmen will own,’’ he said.
He said the farm will also have road network, hospital, electricity supply, market, schools and all other social amenities.
The chairman, MACBAN, Alhaji Haruna Usman assured the association’s commitment for proper utilization of the programme.
He said the gesture was a promise fulfilled by the state government in proving the breeders with modern method of rearing animals.
Usman appreciates the efforts of the state government, adding that the programme should have been by the Federal Government.
On his part, Hafis Bayero, Managing Director, Kaduna Market and Development Company said the programme would aid in settling all herdsmen in one single location to rear their animals.
He said the programme would also allow them to live with their family in a proper modern house and to have access to pasture and water while the partner add value to the milk and sale it
Bayero assured that another component of the project would be the expansion of Ladduga ranch in Kachia Local Government and many other locations.
“We will ensure that pastoral and movement of cows becomes a thing of the past, we will settle them in one location for the benefit of all.”
(NAN)
