AGRICULTURE: Taraba Boosts Dairy Production with Training on Udder Health and Disease Control.

By Jako.

The Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security in Taraba State, Nicholas Namesan, has underscored the critical role of dairy production in strengthening Nigeria’s food security sector.

Speaking at a workshop on Udder Health Management, Mastitis Control, and Disease Outbreak Prevention organized by the Taraba State Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRESS) in Jalingo, Namesan—represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Sarah Danjuma Ali—emphasized that livestock farming remains a major source of income and nutrition for rural communities. He stressed the need for strict hygiene in animal farming to ensure safe consumption.

According to him, udder health challenges severely reduce the productivity and profitability of dairy animals by causing low milk yield, poor milk quality, and financial losses to farmers. He reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to supporting initiatives that enhance animal health, promote dairy farming, and improve farmers’ livelihoods.

Namesan disclosed that through L-PRESS, the state government has already built a disease surveillance laboratory, renovated slaughterhouses, developed cottage pastures, and expanded grazing reserves. He, however, noted that government’s efforts would not succeed without the collaboration of field officers, veterinary doctors, animal health technologists, and livestock producers.

L-PRESS Project Coordinator, Hannaniah Albert, explained that the project is designed to improve livestock productivity, promote commercialization, strengthen animal health systems, and enhance resilience against climate change. He said Taraba has prioritized cattle, sheep, goats, and poultry as its key production systems.

Albert stressed that the workshop was a strategic investment in frontline animal health workers, aimed at equipping them with practical skills to detect early infections, ensure proper hygiene, and respond promptly to disease outbreaks. He urged livestock extension agents to serve as the backbone of transformation in the sector by reporting mastitis cases, which often go underreported but significantly affect both milk quality and rural livelihoods.

The Director of Livestock Services, Daudu Mbamoo, commended the organizers and urged participants to step down the knowledge gained to farmers at the grassroots. Similarly, the Director of Veterinary Services, Francis Nathan, described the training as timely, urging participants to ensure udder hygiene to prevent disease transmission from animals to humans.

Albert and other speakers lauded Governor Agbu Kefas for his continued support to L-PRESS, expressing optimism that Taraba will soon record major improvements in livestock health and dairy production.