Taraba State Government, on Thursday, launched the livestock productivity resilience support project.
Mr Hananiah Albert the project state coordinator, disclosed during the event in Jalingo that the development was to enhance livestock productivity and address the issue of gender-based violence.
According to Albert, the World Bank assisted project, aims at building resilience among pastoralists is targeted to benefit over forty thousand households in rural communities of Taraba.
“The cardinal objective of this project involves, training members of the Project Implementation Unit in preventing gender-based violence, recognizing the psychological impact on victims that hampers productivity in various livelihood aspects, including livestock production.
“We seek to challenge the societal stereotypes that disadvantage certain genders, such as cultural norms, preventing women from owning properties like lands, farms or engaging in animal rearing. Given the fact that farming and livestock production form the backbone of rural livelihoods in the state, the project has also plan to elevate entrepreneurial skills that would boost beneficiaries income,” the project coordinator explained.
Meanwhile, Mrs Maryam Adamu, the National Gender Specialist, expressed that the project approach was not only aimed at enhancing livestock productivity, but was also to address social challenges that impede the full potential of rural communities to make a significant step towards sustainable development of Taraba.