In tandem with the objective of the ATA livestock value chain to ensure availability of good and quality stock as well as health coverage, especially for household livestock in the rural area, 88 livestock farmers in Kwara State have become the recent beneficiaries of subsidized input materials under the sheep and goat value chain of the Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GES) of the Federal Government's ATA.

Speaking at the roll–out exercise which held at the State Ministry of Agriculture (MANR), Ilorin, the GES State Coordinator, Engineer Oyedele Abifarin hailed the collaboration between the Federal and State Governments in providing support for farmers, disclosing that 150 farmers were to benefit from the value chain for sheep and goats, but only 88 redeemed their materials.

While commending the efforts of the Federal Government towards providing needed incentives which he noted will make agriculture appealing to more citizens, the State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Barrister Kayode Towoju urged the farmers in the state to avail themselves of the opportunity presented by the GES to boost livestock productivity as well as adhere strictly to the instructions of the specialists at the programme.

According to the State Director, FMARD / ATA Coordinator - Mr. Adebisi Buhari who delivered the Minister of Agriculture – Dr. Akinwumi Adesina's speech at the occasion, the value chain is set to promote efficiency in livestock production and reduce livestock mortality to less than 2 percent, this he added will help in selling, processing as well as add value to livestock products and create over 450,000 direct and indirect jobs by the year 2016.

Furthermore, he disclosed that the 2014 GES roll-out exercise will cover about 25 states of the Federation in which 5,150 livestock farmers will be reached with input worth ?10,800 per farmer consisting of 4 bags of feed at the rate of ?8,800 per bag, 2 salt block at ?1,400, 10 bowls of de-wormer for ?300 and Acarcide at ?300.

However, he stated that half of the total sum was paid by both the Federal and State government while the other half was provided by the farmers who paid a sum of ?5,400 each farmer.