AGRICULTURE: Osun Fattens 2,600 Rams For Eid-El-Kabir Festival

Staff October 5, 2013

Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola yesterday reiterated his commitment to animal husbandry as part of his agriculture programmes to reduce dependence on the northern part of the country for meat.
Speaking at Oloba Cattle Ranch at Iwo during the official commencement of sales of rams to Muslims for the purpose of Eid-El-Kabir festival, the governor explained that he was committed to promoting ram and cattle feed lot in Osun state.
Aregbesola who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti noted that the ranch has the capacity to accommodate 10,000 animals for fattening.
Aregbesola said if Osun can plug effectively into venture of raising its own animal protein, it will provide at least 5,000 different jobs and five times more indirectly through animal husbandry and allied industries.
He added that the scheme would be managed by private sector operators in a Public Private Partnership (PPP) with the state Government.
“What we are opening is a vista for self sufficiency in meat production and unlimited business opportunities in agro allied industries. The rams that are being offered today are of the highest quality.”
At least, 2,600 big rams were displayed for sale at the farm with price ranging from N30,000 to N70,000 depending on the size of the ram. Buyers were already thronging the farm to buy rams for Ileya festival.
Aregbesola urged people of neighboring states to also take maximum advantage of the ranch and buy rams for the forthcoming Ileya festival.
DAILY TRUST