By Celestine OkehEbonyi State Government on Thursday, commissioned the Livestock productivity and Resilience Support Project, L-PRES 20KVA solar power installation with 30killowatts battery backup at the state ministry of Agriculture and natural resources, Ochudo Centenary City, Abakaliki.
The solar power installation according to the Engineer, the solar power installation is capable of carrying all the air conditioners and other electrical appliances in the ministry.
Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, the state Commissioner for Agriculture and natural resources, Princess Nkechinyere Iyioku, expressed delight over the completion of the project and Commended the state Governor, Chief Francis Ogbonna Nwifiru, whom she described as Agriculture-friendly Governor for attracting the project through the world bank to the state.
The Commissioner also commended the L-PRES SPC and PI for the great work they are doing and enjoined them to make judicious use of the project and ensure they switch off all gadget if not in use to avoid fire outbreak.
“I want to welcome you to the Commissioning of this L-PRES solar light project. Honestly, I want to first thank God for making today a reality. I want to thank our farmer friendly Governor, His Excellency, Rt Hon Bldr Francis Nwifiru for attracting this project, L-PRES, to the state. Since we came onboard, he has been doing everything to make sure that we succeed in this project. And here we are now to commission the installation of Solar light project.
"I want to thank the SPC L-PRES, the PI members for how you have been working very hard to make sure that we succeed. Groups and cooperate bodies look for alternative source of energy due to unsteady energy supply, with this, I know it will cusion the effect of unsteady energy supply.
“I want to appreciate you and advise that we are in the harmattan period. Anytime you're not using it, make sure you put it off to avoid fire out break. I know God will not allow it to happen”, the commissioner stated.
State Coordinator L-Pres, Mr Victor NwiteEarlier, the State project Coordinator, Livestock productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES), Mr. Victor Nwite said, L-PRES is all about enhancement of livestock productivity and development by the livestock farmers.
He lauded the state Governor, Chief Francis Nwifiru for making sure all the counterpart funds are paid to make the project function optimally in the state.
“The project is all about the enhancement of livestock productivity by livestock farmers. Livestock farmers are to be taught in various ways. How to increase productivity. How to mitigate effect of climatic changes that can affect the animals and human beings.“The importance of this project is that L-PRES will stand in the gap to assist livestock farmers, individual farmers, cooperate livestock farmers improve productivity.
“The project is also there to mitigate the effect of climatic changes because you can't underestimate the effect of climate change. Teaching farmers the approaches to good animal husbandry that will not affect the animals adversely.“Moreso, some livestock farmers will produce and have gloat, meaning after production they will not have enough off takers to buy the product. The L-PRES will make contact with the off takers who will be buying these goods at a good price from the farmers directly.“The L-PRES will also go into the hinter land and livestock clusters teach them all these, guide them and at the end of the whole show know that they have benefitted and have enhanced their productivity.
“In the area of animal medication, most of livestock farmers just go into the market and buy anything from the quacks and they give them wrong direction. L-PRES have their own medical team that helps and assist these livestock farmers.“L-PRES will collaborate with the farmers and clusters groups and established co- chains stores for butchers and egg sellers so that when they have excess they can put it in cold stores so that it will not spoil.
“We site solar boreholes in some of these clusters to help farmers . Those solar boreholes will not only serve the clusters but other beneficiaries who are living in the neighborhood. So, these are more are going to be the benefits people are derive for registering with L-PRES Project.
“L-PRES just started implementation few months ago. So, we have undertaken human capacity building first. So, we have been conducting training for farmers. We have trained over five hundred farmers in various aspects of livestock productivity, making livestock to be business not doing it as something like normal tradition. We teach them how to do Livestock farming as a business.
“This Solar light project commissioned today will help in eco friendly environment and in the area of comfort and convenience to the workers.
“The state government in collaboration with world bank funded this project.“L-PRES came onboard through a desire to assist livestock because all interventions has been on the crops hence the need to invest in livestock farmers. It is only 20 states in the federation were able to meet the criteria for joining the project, which Ebonyi State is one of them.
“It is from this also that this issue of ministry of livestock Development came up. The only thing is that here in Ebonyi State we have not really emphasized it, but with the L-PRES onboard, it is a pointer that ministry of livestock Development is really on course. Thank God for His Excellency who has paid the necessary counterpart fund and his political will to make sure that this project is anchored in the state”.
On his part, the parmanent Secretary in the ministry of Agriculture and natural resources, Mr. Fidelis Nwankwo said, “We've been expecting them to provide the alternative power supply and today, it has come to reality. I want you all to be more committed so that by next year the world bank will give us the full package”.
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