By ARMSTRONG ALLAHMAGANI, Bauchi-
The Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, has approved the release of the sum of N32 million for the vaccination of over 800,000 herds of cattle in the state.
He disclosed this at the launching of 2020/2021 annual livestock vaccination campaign held at the Galambi Cattle Ranch, Bauchi on Wednesday.
According to the Governor: “Despite the scarce resources at our disposal, our administration deemed it necessary to conduct the exercise to control and prevent animal diseases in our state”.
“We have release over N32 million for this exercise which will cover vaccines, equipment and allowances for our staff to do this exercise”.
“While the Ministry for local government has been directed to pay their allowances of all the participating staff in the 20 local government areas as well as also purchase more vaccines that could be used to vaccinate more than 800,000 herds of cattle,” he said.
Governor Mohammed expressed gratitude to the World Organization of Animal Health for donating 6,000 doses of anti-rabbis vaccine to the state through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
He said that Bauchi state is one of the leading livestock producers in the country which constitute about 65 – 75% of the state’s farming population engaged in one form of livestock business or the other.
According to him, the strategic location of Bauchi state in the Sudan Savannah with abandoned grazing areas at a converging point of international cattle routes coupled with the peaceful atmosphere in the state, made it conducive for livestock activities.
The governor said: “It is no surprising that from the 2021 record of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, showed that 1,746,815 herds of cattle, 3,481,285 sheep, 5,312,423 goats.
“However, with crises in Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, Plateauand Kaduna states, most of the fulani herders have moved to the state thereby, increasing the livestock production.”
Earlier in his speech, the Commissioner of Agriculture, Pharmacist Samaila Burga, said that the only way to control livestock diseases that are preventable, is by regular and sustained vaccination of animals.
He said: “From January to December, 20202, a total of 750,221 animals of different species were treated of different diseases in various clinics across the state, while 1,259,153 animals were slaughtered and processed as meat for human consumption at slaughter houses in the state”.
“This exercise is very important because, in most cases, infected animals, if not properly protected and are allowed to move in the society, will definitely make the society sick and this will increase our burden as far as health services are concerned.”
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