The Kwara State government has expended over N2.7million for procurement of farm implements and training of local farmers since 2007, just as it inseminated 120 cows with exotic breed semen in order to produce crossbreeds with higher meat and milk.

The state commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr Bode Olayemi who dropped the hint during the flagging off of artificial insemination at Gaa Osibi in the Ilorin South Local Government Area of the state disclosed that there were three sites for the exercise in the state.

The sites, he said include: Gaa Osibi,Gbugbu and Gida Magajia in Ilorin South, Edu and Baruten Local Government Areas of the state.

The commissioner who spoke through his permanent secretary, Elder Yemi Gabriel Jimoh explained that three farmers from each of the three local government areas were undergoing training on the artificial insemination programme after which they would be equipped with the necessary facilities.

He added that another nine farmers from each of the local governments would be trained in animal nutrition and health, emphasizing that 15 cattle farmers had submitted 94 cows for insemination.

According to him,  it is envisage that the programme will sensitize cattle farmers and encourage them to adopt the technique and make more money.

 When this technique is fully adopted, cattle farming will be transformed to an high profit yielding business thus fulfilling the aim of Agricultural transformation agenda of the present administration .

Also speaking, the National Project Coordinator, African Development Bank/Federal Government of Nigeria Assisted Community Based Agriculture and Rural Development Project (AFDB/FGN-CBARDP), Alhaji Ibrahim Arabi acknowledged the support of the state government for the project in the state.

He also attributed its success story to the prompt payment of the state government counterpart fund.

Alhaji Arabi who was represented by a project coordinator from Bauchi, Dr Kaltungo Joseph stressed the need for the farmer to embrace modern days insemination practice to boost their productivity.