FG Inaugurates National Livestock Breed Improvement Programme In Osun

Yusuf Oketola

THE Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, through its Department of Animal Husbandry Services in conjunc on with Real People Concept Limited, has inaugurated the naonal livestock breed improvement programme, in the State of Osun.

The programme, which was said to be going on in some other states of the federa on, is targeted at improving indigenous cattle breeds for dairy producon.

Speaking during the flag off ceremony held for the project in the state at Makaiza Farms, IwoyeIjesa, Oriade local government of the state, consultant for the project, Mr Tunmise Olagbaju, said the programme is aimed at improving indigenous ca le breeds for dairy producon.

Olagbaju said: “The programme is actually to improve our indigenous ca le breeds for dairy produc on and this involves ar ficial insemina on with exo c dairy breeds to our indigenous cows so that the offsprings they produce will produce more milk so that is the essence of the programme.

“The main target is to increase milk produc on of the indigenous cows to livestock farmers. And when these ca le produce more milk, it means more income for the farmers. Farmers can have more revenue for their labour.

While stressing the need for farmers to parcipate in the programme, Olagbaju noted: “It is important for farmers to parcipate in the programme so that they can also benefit.

“The insemina on is going to be done with sex semen because we are focusing on dairy, so it is sex specific that means that more than 95 percent of all the offspring will be female.

“There is possibility of male but is should not be more than five percent. All the offspring we are expecting from the programme will be female.”

While commen ng on the breed improvement methods adopted for the programme, Olagbaju listed introduc on of exo c gene cs which the government is doing and selecon. “We have not done anything on selec on, even this ar ficial insemina on the government is doing, there is no plan for selecon. I am aware that there is na onal livestock idenfica on and trackability programme that is ongoing. I do not know how far it has gone.

“There is a need for us to have a programme where we can monitor the development of these animals. There must be a way to follow them up, to select the highly performing ones. This will help us to be able to iden fy next genera on of ca le that are highly performing.” dates back to the 17th century.

In his address, Coordinator, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, State of Osun, Mr. Sunday Atoyebi, called on ca le farmers and other stakeholders in the state to support the programme and key into it.

He noted that: “All hands must be on deck so that this programme can boost meat produc on on the state and bring about economic growth and development of Nigeria.

“Currently, around 580 families live in the area covering approximately 1,200 hectares. Quingoma has been recognised as a Quilombola territory by the Palmares Founda on since 2013,” the statement read.

It added: “Ooni disclosed that the rich and robust history of the Brazilians and the Yoruba people have dated back me in memorial.

“The royal father said that the steps taken would not only preserve the history via cultural preserva on, but would also give Brazilians a sense of belonging which would help to foster improvement in strengthening the heritage of Yoruba globally.

“He asserted that the event was a very personal one for him as he is passionate about preserving the Yorubas culture and its deep-rooted values.

“According to him, the Brazilians hold their gods like Sango, Ogun, Yemoja, and Obatala in high esteem and have designated days to celebrate these gods with colorful displays infused with plenty aesthe cs.

“They also speak Yoruba which is one thing I love about them; It is very essen al to harmonise them and also show solidarity that we are part of them and they are part of us.

“This will foster good bilateral trade between Brazil and Nigeria and it will also put the Yoruba culture at an advantage.”

ALL praise is due to Allaah, and may His peace and blessings be upon the final Messenger, His pure family, noble companions, and all those who follow them with righteousness un l the day of Judgment.

Jumat Sermon Jumat Sermon

Ramadhaan is considered the ninth month of the Hijri year, and it is one of the best months of the year for all Muslims, because it has a great reward and reward for Allaah Almighty, and it is the month of fas ng, where the fas ng Muslim refrains from ea ng food and drink and all other things that break the fast from dawn to dawn-sunset prayer.

By Imaam

Tarawih Prayers

Imaam Muhammad Abdulalimi

Muhammad Abdulalimi

The word Ramadhaan is derived from the original “ramad”, which means the intensity and strength of the heat, and its deriva on is based on the weight of the souring of Ramadhaan, that is, it got ho er, and the heat fell in the sense that the heat increased in intensity on them, and at that me they transferred all the names of the months from the language that prevailed in ancient mes, and they began to call them names related to the mes, and this coincided with Ramadhaan , as it was days of great heat, and from that me it was called Ramadhaan

In Ramadhaan, a Muslim performs fas ng, which is one of the obligatory du es imposed on Muslims, and it is one of the five pillars of Islaam, in which the Islamic religion is not valid without it, and fas ng is defined as the Muslim’s absnence from ea ng and drinking and all other things that negate the fast from dawn un l sunset. That is, when the me for the sunset call to prayer comes, and this ming is specific to all parts of the world because of me difference.

One of the most important benefits of fas ng is that it works to purify and purify the human soul, and draw us closer to Allaah Almighty by adhering to the obliga on of fas ng, and in this great month, all the gates of Hell are closed, and the doors of mercy and forgiveness are opened for Muslims, and many Sharia evidence has confirmed fas ng. Allaah Almighty says: “…..and eat and drink at night un l you can dis-