Group solicits partnership with Delta Govt on livestock identification 

The Project Development Manager, Megacorp, Obinna Ihebom, on Wednesday sought partnership with the Delta Government on livestock identification.

Ihebom, presenting the group’s activities before the Delta State Livestock Management Committee on Wednesday at the State Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources in Asaba, said that the process would ensure the full implementation of the National Animal Identification and Traceability System (NAITS) in the state.

According to him, Megacorp, a technology driven Private Public Initiative (PPI) outfit, in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development have launched the NAITS in Abuja.

He said that the project which started about five years now had partnered with other state governments and sensitised  rural communities on the need to tag their animals, particularly  cattle.

Ihebom said that with the technology in place, the challenges of cattle rustling, theft and ownership identification of livestock and the issues of herders -farmers clashes and revenue generations would be addressed in the state.

“One of the many benefits of NAITS is the ability to remove anonymity of livestock owners and information.

“Specifically, for security, the system is able to identify livestock owners and keepers, such that when they encroach on peoples farm, you can identify and penalise them.

“The technology is very easy to use by stakeholders in livestock management; Ministry of Agriculture, the Immigration, Forest guards, Police and other security agents.

“Delta Government can key into the project because as a state, it has competitive advantage in terms of agriculture,  and the need to ensure food security.

“As a state, we expect that it supports the project via its policy framework and providing enabling environment for this project to thrive by supporting the implementation of NAITS in the state.

The Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dr Godfrey Enitan, said the livestock committee would incorporate the Megacorp base on government approval and availability of fund.

He said that no doubt that the tagging and identification on cattle would help to check ownership identification for damages and to curb clashes between herders and farmers.

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According to Enitan, as a state livestock committee chairman, the NAITS project will help in achieving our set objectives but its implementation is subject to government approval.