Nigeria looks set to unlock over $1 billion annually from the Feed and Fodder subsector.
This was revealed at the African Union, Inter-Africa Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR), High Level Inventory and Investment Forum for Nigeria, in Abuja on Tuesday.
Nigeria’s Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar-Maiha, re-emphasized the need for policies that would promote sustainable Livestock production and end farmers, herders clashes.
Over time, Nigeria has been grappling with a severe Feed shortage crisis that threatens the country’s Livestock industry, with the alarming shortfall compounded by post-harvest Feed losses that has sparked a series of urgent measures by the government to reverse the trend and ensure the sustainability of Livestock production.
These measures have often met with ineffective implementation, thereby resulting in series of violent clashes between farmers and herders across the country.
The closing session of a 5-day African Union, Inter-Africa Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR), High Level Inventory and Investment Forum for Nigeria, underscored the gravity of the situation, and the need for urgent measures.
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With the theme: ‘Harnessing Feed and Fodder Data for Sustainable Livestock Sector Development, Resilience, and Stability,’ Speakers were optimistic that with structured policy, a stable supply chain and improved market access, Nigeria’s Feed and Fodder subsector will transform Livestock farming and rural livelihoods.
The AU-IBAR project aims at enhancing Feed and Fodder production, developing a Feed inventory and balance sheet, as well as a data dashboard to track Feed and Fodder availability in 6 African countries, including Nigeria.
(Editor: Ken Eseni)
