…Gombe L-PRES Moves to Scale Up Artificial Insemination Programme — Prof. U. B. Abubakar
…Participants Hail Gov Inuwa’s Livestock Transformation Agenda, Pledge to Step Down Knowledge at the Grassroots
As part of ongoing efforts to equip livestock farmers with modern skills and improve productivity across the sector, the Gombe State Government, through the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (L-PRES) Project, has conducted an awareness creation and step-down training on Artificial Insemination (AI) and modern breeding techniques for farmers across the state.
The training, which brought together 173 participants drawn from the 55 established and registered dairy farmers’ cooperative societies and integrated farms across Gombe State, focused on modern breeding techniques aimed at improving livestock productivity, profitability, and resilience.
Declaring the workshop open, the State Project Coordinator of Gombe L-PRES, Prof. Usman Bello Abubakar, said the Artificial Insemination programme became necessary following the successes recorded during pilot trials and the need to modernise livestock breeding practices in the state.
He observed that for many years, greater attention had been given to crop production, while the livestock sector remained largely neglected despite its economic importance.
According to him, Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya’s administration has deliberately prioritised livestock development through strategic investments and policies designed to reposition animal husbandry as a modern and profitable business venture.
Prof. Abubakar cited the establishment of the over 184-Heactarr Agro-Livestock Development Zone, Ultra-modern Abattoir, Modern Cattle Market, Fattening hub, and the ongoing Artificial Insemination programme as part of government’s broader commitment to transforming the sector.
He noted that crude and outdated breeding methods had continued to limit livestock productivity, explaining that despite the large number of cattle in the country, milk production remains extremely low compared to global standards.
“Our cows hardly produce more than one or two litres of milk daily, while in advanced breeding systems, a single cow can produce between 40 and 60 litres,” he stated.
The Project Coordinator further explained that under traditional breeding practices, some cows take several years before reproduction, whereas modern breeding systems allow for improved reproductive efficiency and better output.
He stressed that the Artificial Insemination programme was introduced to boost productivity, profitability, and resilience within the livestock value chain, adding that plans were underway to intensify the programme across the state through the importation of improved bull semen from Brazil.
Prof. Abubakar urged participants to pay close attention to the training sessions, utilise the knowledge gained effectively, and step down the training to other farmers and herders within their communities.
He also called for peaceful coexistence between farmers and herders and encouraged participants to prioritise the education of their children for a better future.
The training featured technical sessions facilitated by the Director of Dairy Research and Development Centre, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Prof. Demo Kalla, who delivered presentations on livestock breeding, animal selection, Artificial Insemination techniques, management practices, and awareness creation strategies.
Prof. Kalla said increasing population, shrinking grazing lands, and recurring farmer-herder conflicts have made modern breeding systems more necessary, noting that Artificial Insemination enables farmers to achieve higher productivity with fewer animals and limited space.
He added that improved livestock productivity remains critical to food security, economic prosperity, and sustainable peace.
Participants at the workshop, including Sarkin Fulanin Kwami, Alhaji Umaru Ahmadu, and Hajiya Habiba Hassan from Yamaltu/Deba Local Government Area, commended Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya and the Gombe L-PRES Project for the initiative.
They described the training as timely and impactful, assuring that the knowledge acquired would be applied and shared with fellow farmers and herders at the grassroots to improve livestock production across the state.
Present at the occasion were the Director of Veterinary Services, Dr. Makeri; Director of Livestock Services, Yusuf Mahdi; and Deputy Director of Livestock Services, Abubakar Bello, all from the Gombe State Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Cooperatives.
