Idi Mukthar Maiha, the Minister of Livestock Development, declares that with the current investments in the livestock and a structured policy in the feed and fodder sub-sector, Nigeria will increase its cattle production to 398.9 million heads of cattle and grow its Gross Domestic Product, GDP’s contribution from livestock to $74 billion by 2035.

Maiha, who made the remarks at the Livestock Ministry’s validation workshop held in Abuja on Tuesday for National Animal Feeds and Fodder Policy, noted that the aim was meant to address pressing challenges hindering Livestock industry’s growth, including inadequate feed and fodder supply, poor quality control as well as the weak regulatory frameworks.

According to Maiha, key objectives of the policy include doubling the national herd, increasing it to 398.9 million heads of cattle, boosting livestock’s contribution to National GDP from $32 billion to $74 billion by 2035 and improving feed and fodder production, investment, research, and quality standards.

He said that the structured policy was expected to provide a comprehensive framework for enhancing co-ordination among stakeholders, encouraging investment, and supporting research and development.

Maiha added that the initiative was a demonstration of Government’s efforts to unlock the full potentials of Nigeria’s Livestock industry, promoting national food security, rural livelihoods, and economic diversification.

Also speaking, Winnie Lai Solarin, Director of Ruminant and Monogastric Development at the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, said feed and fodder account for over 70% of production costs in animal agriculture, significantly contributing to farmer-herder conflicts in Nigeria.

She said the National Animal Feeds and Fodder Policy aims to guide the production, processing, marketing, and utilisation of feed and fodder, ensuring adequate and quality supplies.

The Director stated that key areas of focus for the policy include enhancing feed and fodder production using modern techniques and technologies, developing facilities and structures for aggregating and processing feeds and pastures, creating market structures for affordable access to feed and fodder, and training of farmers on effective utilisation, among others.

She noted that the policy’s holistic approach involves engagement from multiple stakeholders, including farmers, private sector actors, and Government agencies.

“By implementing this policy, Nigeria’s livestock sector can become more productive, sustainable, and economically viable, aligning with the ministry’s goals of enhancing livestock productivity, promoting sustainable farming practices, and stimulating economic growth”, she added

Maikano Mohammed Ali, President of the Nigerian Feed and Fodder Multicultural Platform, said work on the structured policy had begun since 2018.

He noted that a core area of the policy had brought an opportunity for proper legislation of the sector because the sector has a lot of players along the value chain and if not properly regulated, it could have consequential effects on the lives of the people

“There is an opportunity for private sector participation, we cannot continue to depend on Government to drive everything. And most importantly, we are beginning to have data-driven sector intervention. We have to invest in re-fertilising our grazing reserves so that at least there would not be a lot of dry matter from the fodder that you can get”, he noted.

Source - https://businessday.ng