The five-day workshop, conducted in Ilorin, centered on commercial fodder production and value chain enhancement to boost livestock productivity and foster economic independence among practitioners.

One of the beneficiaries, Ajala Khadija Idowu, a female smallholder farmer, commended the initiative, stating that it has provided her with the skills to transform farm waste into high-quality feeds, thereby enhancing livestock productivity at lower costs.

The workshop is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen agriculture in Kwara State and improve farmers' livelihoods. Through the training, farmers are anticipated to boost their productivity, cut costs, and improve their economic independence.

One of the chosen beneficiaries of the training workshop is Ajala Khadija Idowu, a female smallholder farmer, she said that the capacity-building workshop has trained the participants on how to turn farm wastes into quality feeds for improved productivity in livestock at a reduced cost.

"On farmlands, plant residues such as maize or sorghum straws and stalks are often left behind, leading to waste. However, this capacity-building workshop has taught us how to transform these materials into high-quality feeds, enhancing livestock productivity and lowering costs."

"There are various machines designed for this purpose, such as fodder choppers, crushers, and cutters, which break down the waste into small particle feeds for animals. We can further enhance the feed's quality by converting it into silage, a fermented feed that is more digestible and of higher quality for livestock.

"We were also educated on how to produce fodder from arable plants and grasses, instead of allowing our animals to graze on people’s farms, thus minimizing conflicts between herders and crop farmers."

She also said that the participants learned how to utilize farm waste to make compost, which is fertilizer.

Additionally, Prince Olubunmi Isioye, a crop and livestock farmer from Offa Local Government Area, praised the initiatives driving the program, calling it a valuable innovation for Nigeria.

"Many people often complain about the difficult socioeconomic situation in the country. However, this program teaches us how to fish rather than just giving us fish. While some may seek quick money, this program will make us self-reliant, allowing us to earn without depending on the government. It’s a great initiative because it has revealed numerous profitable opportunities to us."

“All the farm wastes can be converted to fodder (animals feeds with nutrients) thereby increasing productivity and advantage to make more profit on our livestock. Thus, disallowing animals to graze in people’s farms”, he said.

In his remarks, Dr. Abdulhakeem Ajeigbe of the Centre for Dryland Agriculture, Bayero University Kano (BUK) said that the participants were also taken through challenges of accelerated climate change in terms of rainfall, temperature, humidity, drought, flood, diseases, weed problems, etc.

Dr. Ajeigbe said that if Nigeria is to feed a total of 300 million population expected in the next 25 years, “we need to make agriculture a business. And if it’s to be business, it has to be modernized and market oriented”.

He urged the country to promote irrigated farming to boost agricultural production, ensuring it can meet the needs of the projected 300 million population.

He also said that some of the machines needed for fodder making can be produced locally, to make it interesting for farmers.

The Kwara State L-PRES coordinator, Mr. Olusoji Oyawoye, also praised Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq for his ongoing support and dedication to enhancing the livelihoods of smallholder farmers and pastoralists in the state.

He encouraged the participants to pass on the knowledge gained from the program to members of their communities to achieve the program's goals more effectively.

“As you return to your respective communities, I urge you to put into practice the knowledge, skills,
and technologies you have acquired during this program. I also encourage you to share your
newfound expertise with your colleagues, friends, and family members, and to work together to
promote the development of the livestock sector in your communities”, he said.