The Ebonyi Government says it has paid N150 million counterpart fund for the establishment of the World Bank-funded Automated Integration Ranch System in the state.

Mr Victor Nwite, the Project Coordinator, Livestock Productivity and Resilience Project (L-PRES), a World Bank Assisted project, disclosed this in an interview with Newsmen in Abakaliki on Saturday.

Nwite said that the state had also provided the enabling environment to ensure that the project was successfully executed.

He said that the project would be situated at Ezamgbo in Ohaukwu Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.

He also said that the initiative was meant to transform the livestock sector by enhancing value addition and quality service.

He said the move would ensure the sustainable diversification of the state economy through livestock protection.

According to him, the development is part of L-PRES?s goal to improve livestock productivity, build resilience within the sector and promote commercialisation of key value chain.

?The facility is expected to have structures of hospital for animals, veterinary laboratory and cold chain facility, cottage pasture, alongside a smart skills training centre.

?The plan involves establishing infrastructures to take care of pigs, cattle, sheep, goats and processing.

?Everything will be automated and this vision is in collaboration with the World Bank.

?This project gears towards educating farmers on how best to rear their animals in a proper way, using climate smart activity and interventions.

?We are ready to really turn around the livestock industry in the state, led by L-PRES, with support from the governor,? Nwite said.

He further said that the agency had budgeted to support live bird markets in the state, and funded a processing unit at the poultry farm, to supply day-old chicks to various regions.

He said that about 14,000 livestock farmers were profiled and trained on good animal husbandry practices, to control outbreaks, artificial insemination to improve productivity, among other benefits.

Nwite said that the project had trained veterinary staff, para vets and extension agents for the programme.

He disclosed that the State Government had purchased 15 motor bikes for extension agents to attend to farmers in the LGAs of the state.

He said that the project would provide structures that would assist community of farmers with clusters with cold store, solar-powered borehole, among other benefits.

Nwite said the project was expected to introduce an automated standard abattoir, pig market, processing unit and renovation of five slaughter slabs in the state.

He commended the governor for his commitment and collaboration to make significant positive impact with the initiative.

?In other areas of assistance to farmers, L-PRES carried out free Anthrax vaccination across the state to avoid zoonotic diseases among animals,? he said.(VON)

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