Farmers Urged to Change Perception Against Goat And Sheep Rearing
Farmers in the state of Osun have been advised to change their perception towards rearing of Goat and Sheep as mere domestic animals but rather embrace it as a lucrative business that can create wealth,employment and reduce poverty in the society.
The Coordinating Director,Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security,Dr Oluwabukola Aluko gave the advice during an opening remark at a training workshop organised for Goat and Sheep Farmers in the State held at Osogbo City Hall,Olonkoro area of Osogbo town.
The Coordinating Director ,who was represented by the Deputy Director, livestock Services Department , Mrs Ajibike Fagbemi added that the training workshop was organised by the government of the State in collaboration with Gems 4 and Animal Care Consulting Centre with Signed Memrandum of Understanding to give them necessary knowledge about Goat and Sheep rearing in modern ways.
Dr Aluko stressed that the training workshop ,which focused on modern techniques of Fattening Small Ruminant Animals is part of the Government effort to achieve part of its six point integral Action plan of reducing poverty, creating employment and wealth through rearing of Goat and Sheep.
While assuring the farmers that the training workshop is an additional opportunity for them to know how best to rear their animals with ease and for profit ,he also implored all benefitting Goat and Sheep Farmers to put the knowledge gained from the training workshop in use to stimulate other unemployed youths in the State.
Also Speaking,Mr Semowo Munyiwa from Animal Care Consulting Centre disclosed that Goat and Sheep rearing is a lucrative agricultural venture if properly managed.
Mr Munyiwa maintained that feeding of animals with adequate concentrate of feeds and restricting from roaming about will give farmers a profitable result within 50 days.
He therefore encouraged the farmers and others that are interested in Goat and Sheep rearing to embrace caging system and feeding system to profit and move out of poverty.