By Muhammad Sani Muazu
The Bauchi State Government has distributed 100 fodder choppers, 100 crop residue crushers and 20 motorcycles to livestock producers and extension agents under the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (L-PRES) Project to strengthen livestock production across the state.
The equipment was officially launched and distributed on Thursday at the Bauchi State Agricultural Development Programme (BSADP) premises in Bauchi.
Speaking at the event, the State Project Coordinator of L-PRES, Dr. Musa Adamu One, said the intervention was part of efforts to improve feed availability, reduce post-harvest losses and enhance productivity in the livestock sector.
He explained that the machines would be distributed across the three major livestock value chains — beef, dairy, and sheep and goats — covering three clusters and 30 sub-clusters across the state.
According to him, “the L-PRES State Coordination Office has procured 100 fodder choppers, 100 crop residue crushers and 20 motorcycles to support livestock producers and extension service delivery across the state.”
Dr. Musa added that 40 choppers and 40 crushers would be allocated to beef producers, another 40 choppers and 40 crushers to dairy producers, while sheep and goat farmers would receive 20 choppers and 20 crushers.
He noted that access to quality livestock feed remains a major challenge facing farmers, stressing that the machines would help promote better utilisation of crop residues and improve production efficiency.
“By providing these machines, the L-PRES Project is directly addressing feed scarcity, promoting better utilisation of crop residues and increasing efficiency in livestock production,” he said.
Dr. Musa also explained that the 20 motorcycles distributed to livestock extension agents would enhance their mobility and ensure timely technical support to farmers across the state.
In his remarks, the Bauchi State Commissioner for Livestock Development Dr. Bala Musa Lukshi said the initiative reflects the commitment of Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed to transform the livestock sector into a modern and economically viable industry.
He stated that the sector remains a key pillar of the state’s agricultural economy but has been constrained by limited access to modern equipment and mobility challenges for extension personnel.
The commissioner said the distribution of the equipment would significantly improve feed processing capacity and livestock nutrition, leading to higher productivity and increased income for farmers.
“The distribution of these hundred choppers and hundred crushers will significantly enhance feed processing efficiency within our clusters by maximizing production, reducing post-harvest losses and improving feed quality,” he said.
He further described extension officers as the backbone of agricultural transformation, noting that the motorcycles would enable them to reach remote communities, provide technical guidance and monitor livestock programmes more effectively.
The commissioner urged beneficiaries to make proper use of the equipment and maintain them for the collective benefit of their clusters.
He also called on livestock farmers to adopt modern production systems to improve productivity, create jobs and enhance food security in the state.
The L-PRES project, supported by the World Bank, aims to strengthen livestock value chains, improve rural incomes and enhance resilience among livestock producers across participating states.