The Kebbi State Government is partnering with Indonesia to domesticate embryo transfer and artificial insemination, an official disclosed.
The State Commissioner for Religious Affairs, Sani Aliyu, who stated this in an interview with Journalists in Birnin Kebbi, said the essence of the partnership was to boost animal production for the benefit of Kebbi and Nigeria at large.
The commissioner recalled that sometime in September, the Government of Indonesia after discussion with Gov. Nasir Idris of Kebbi, sponsored two Veterinary Doctors from Kebbi for a 30-day intensive training on artificial insemination.
“They sponsored two of our Veterinary Doctors to Indonesia, trained them for a good solid 30 days on artificial insemination. It was intended to see how best Kebbi could boost its livestock development.
“Just as you all know, Kebbi is peculiar in Northern Nigeria when it comes to livestock development. That is one of the areas where our people are seen to have comparative advantage and prosperity,” he said.
Aliyu said that Gov. Idris had recently led a delegation to Indonesia on invitation of Zakkat World Conference, adding that the governor used the opportunity to strengthen partnership with the Indonesian government on some useful sectors of the economy.
He said: “We were together with the Commissioner for Livestock Development and Animal Health. We visited their Embryo Transfer Centre and we saw by ourselves how great Indonesia is on the issue of both embryo and artificial insemination.
“They are the best and the only centre in Asia on embryo transfer. And it will also interest you to know that this collaboration has assisted us to facilitate the coming of the Indonesian Ambassador to visit Kebbi which may materialise before the end of this month.
“During his visit, the Ambassador will meet our Governor, our Veterinary Doctors, and facilities and also see where best they can support Kebbi on the issue relating to national development.”
The commissioner said the visit of the Indonesian Ambassador and some key officials from Indonesia was not only to see what’s happening in Kebbi but also to assist those that were trained to transfer their skills to other doctors.
“Apart from that, the team will also be involved in the training and retraining of other doctors that have not been opportune to go to Indonesia for the training.
“Anything that is related to livestock and animal development will be discussed. And the state officers will be shown possible ways out of every possible predicament being faced relating to cattle rearing.
“I know an area we visited, that is Bogor, where their embryo transfer center is located, and perhaps Malan, where artificial insemination is taking place, these are areas where the rainy season is about eight to nine months every year.
“So, they have grass every time, but if it is within their wishes, they will call the attention of the veterinary doctors to it and those in the cattle rearing to leverage the opportunity to make it work,” he noted.
NAN
