The Ogun State Government has commenced vaccination for goats and other ruminants, as it targets 16,000 animals for the year 2021,a move said to be a swift response to combat loss of livestock, due to ravaging Peste Des Petis Ruminants, otherwise called goat plague.
Penpushing reports that, Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Adeola Odedina while flagging -off the ceremony at Imala, Abeokuta North Local Government Area, being one of the largest producers of beef in the State, said government was ready at ensuring food security, despite the outbreak of animal diseases, coronavirus pandemic and unfavorable climate change.
The Commissioner described goat plague, as a highly contagious ruminants disease that has no cure, hence the need to take a preventive step, at combating the disease via vaccination, saying the government would ensure that the exercise extends to other Local Government Areas.
“As a responsive government, we must do all in our power to ensure food availability and security, while promoting profitable agribusinesses that provide jobs and contribute to the economy of the State. This activity is in line with our renewed focus on the provision of nutritious food, by ensuring that livestock protein components are affordable and not threatened”, he said.
Penpushing further reports that, Odedina enumerated high fever, sores in the mouth, diarrhea, pneumonia, and high mortality as the effect of goat plague, imploring livestock farmers to quickly report any case of the outbreak to the nearest Veterinary Clinic across the State for a prompt intervention to curtail the spread.
The traditional ruler of Imala, Oba Moses Olabode earlier in his speech lauded Ogun State Government for the intervention which he said would preserve their livestock against the outbreak of diseases.
Penpushing also reports that, Omola of Imala, noted that Agriculture was the mainstay of the Nigerian economy which should not be washed aside, encouraging youths to shun idleness and embrace profitable agricultural ventures, as arable land for all types of farming abound in the State.
Meanwhile, speaking on behalf of other beneficiaries, Salimatu Abiona and Rebecca Fagbenro, appreciated Government for the gesture, saying the exercise would ensure the breeding of healthy animals, that would further guarantee their profitability.
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