Fulani herdsmen in Doguwa Local Government Area of Kano State have appealed to the state government to support them with improved animal feeds.
According to them, such an invaluable gesture by the state government will bolster the milk production of their herds.
The Head (Ardo) of the herdsmen in the area, Ahmadu Sulaiman,made the appeal while interacting with newsmen at the Falgore Cattle Market on Friday.
Sulaiman said more than 5,000 cattle in the area were under his watch, adding,”however, they are in dire need of feeds including offals and other nutritious feeds.
“As we speak, over 5,000 cattle of ours cannot feed well as the rainy season is over, hence the need for the government to support us with nutritious feeds that will fatten them towards improved milk production.”
According to him, the huge number of cows in the area produce thousands of litres of milk daily and sold to dairy firms producing yoghurt and other milk products.
The herdsmen leader, then, commended the state government for providing a veterinary clinic at the market through the State Agro-Pastoral Development Project (KSADP), which he said, had enhanced the health of their animals.
Slaiman also lauded the government for ensuring regular vaccination of their cattle against diseases that could cause mortality.
“All these gestures being rolled out for our cattle by the government have engendered peace and stability in this area, because our people, especially the youths, are gainfully engaged,” he said.
Sulaiman, however, urged KSADP to involve his fellow herdsmen in its enlightenment campaign on the importance of its activities to livestock development in the area.
“This is because our people prefer to receive the message from their tribesmen who talk to them in the manner and language they understand,” he added.
The KSADP is presently constructing and equipping five milk collection centres across milk producing communities in the state, including the one at the market.
Each of the centres is equipped with a 550-litre milk storage tank and its accessories – solar-powered borehole, toilet facilities, solar lighting and an office.
When completed, each of the centres will be handed over to a management committee that will handle it as an independent business entity.
(NAN)
