The Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T), a multi-disciplinary research Institute Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife, in furtherance of its mandate on facilitating Research and Training into land, crop and livestock development, in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), has yesterday, presented certificates to 25 veterinary paraprofessionals.

Speaking at the presentation of award certificates to the trainees, the Executive Director IAR&T, Prof Veronica Obatolu, reiterated the institute's commitment to the development of agriculture, through entrepreneurial and research-based trainings.

To strengthen this mandate, the institute has partnered with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), in the training of veterinary paraprofessionals (VPP'S), to serve the livestock producing population in the country to enhance capacity tp provide preventive healthcare for business growth. She further stated that the institute will continue to provide a conducive training and research facility for sustaining food security, and contribute positively to the development of agriculture in the country.

"The population of Veterinary Practitioners in the country today cannot cater to the high number of livestock farmers in the country, therefore it becomes pertinent to build capacity in the veterinary profession to improve livestock production and grow income for smallholder farmers", she said.

While delivering her welcome address, the IAR&T boss said the training exposed the VPP's to effective communication skills and other clinical examination processes required to tackle current challenges in veterinary practice, and meet the needs of the livestock industry.

"There is no doubt that VPP's often serve as the first responders to livestock smallholder farmers in the nation, hence, they must be properly trained and retrained" she said, while speaking on the importance of the training to the growth of the livestock industry.

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