Kwara L-PRES lifts Fulani community with solar-powered borehole
Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin
The Kwara State Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES) has handed over a newly constructed ten-litre capacity iron steel galvanised solar-powered borehole water project to Gaa Labintan community in Asa Local Government Area of the State.
Speaking at the brief handover ceremony, the State Project Coordinator, Mr. Olusoji Oyawoye, said the project is part of the State Government’s effort to curb incessant conflict between the farmers and herders in the State, as well as improving the resilience of livestock farmers on the effects of climate change, and increasing their productivity, adding that the project is aligned with the L-PRES project development objective (PDO).
The Coordinator, who was represented by the Project Social Safeguard Officer, Mrs. Folake Iseyemi, also constituted a five-person local committee, tasked to ensure the sustainability of the project at the grassroots level.
According to him, the committee, in collaboration with the L-PRES coordination office, would facilitate activities that promote social cohesion between herders and farmers, anticipate and resolve potential conflicts, as well as strengthen peace-building among various communities in the area.
Responding on behalf of the community leaders at the meeting, the Jowuro of Labintan, Alhaji Ibrahim Hamadu, thanked the state government, L-PRES Project and other development partners for the noble gesture, optimistic that the project would reduce their migration in search of water and curb the clashes between the herders and farmers in the area and the State at large.
He also solicited for more projects that would help to ameliorate the suffering of pastoralists towards enhancing livestock production and food security in the country.
Major highlight at the occasion was the distribution of livestock enzymes and saltlick to the herders in the community.