By Muhammad Sani Muazu
The Bauchi State Ministry of Livestock Development has pledged stronger collaboration with the Bauchi State Agricultural Development Programme (BSADP) to boost the livestock sector in the state.
The commitment was made when a delegation of livestock specialists from the Republic of Tunisia, led by the Commissioner for Livestock Development, Dr. Bala Musa Lukshi, paid a visit to the BSADP headquarters in Bauchi.
Welcoming the visitors, BSADP Programme Manager, Malam Yau Mohammed, said the engagement marked a giant step towards foreign partnership to address challenges facing livestock production in the state. Dr. Lukshi, in his remarks, emphasized the ministry’s resolve to ensure quality animal protein supply by improving farm management strategies as well as animal handling practices.
Leader of the Tunisian team, Dr. Amel, highlighted the vast potentials of the livestock industry in Bauchi State but noted that services observed during their visits to LGAs, farms, markets, abattoirs, the NVRI, and ATBU’s Dairy Centre were below global standards. She assured of Tunisia’s readiness to support in raising the standards.
Responding, the Programme Manager identified lack of quality feed and poor animal handling as major challenges. Other speakers, including Malam Hussaini Yaribe, Overseeing Director of the Rural Institutional Department, and Mr. Rafilawos Yohanna Iliya, Director of Agricultural Technical Services, stressed the need for training extension agents and noted ongoing sensitisation programmes for farmers and stakeholders.
Director of Livestock Services, Dr. Ibrahim Bello, described BSADP as the hub for implementing all government agricultural and livestock programmes in the state. The meeting ended with a group photograph involving the visitors, ministry officials, and BSADP management.