The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Mohammed Abubakar, has reitrated the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring food security in the country.
Abubakar made the pledge at the opening of the 1st National Animal Feed Summit in Abuja on Thursday.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Dr Ernest Umakhihe, the minister described the Summit as timely and well-intended.
He said that the theme of the summit: ”Developing a Roadmap for Animal Feed Security in Nigeria” was quite appropriate.
Abubakar said that safe animal feed production was crucial to the achievement of food security in the country.
”As a government, we are committed to providing supports to livestock farmers in order to reduce the cost of inputs.
”The ministry procures and distributes ruminant feed concentrates, salt licks and finished feeds to small-holder farmers,” he said.
The minister said that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government had taken proactive steps to develop the feed industry.
“We are exploring alternative ingredients such as cassava peels and cocoa pod with supply of cottage feed-block mold in some states,” he said
He further said that the Federal Government had approved the release of 5,000 metric tons of maize from the Strategic Food Reserve to the Poultry Association of Nigeria.
”The essence is to inject resources and raw materials into the feed industry, We shall continue to give attention to the animal feed needs of farmers in the country.
”We shall do this by implementing enduring policies that will transform the nation’s livestock industry and agriculture in general,” he said.
Abubakar stated that animal feed accounted for no fewer than 70 per cent of the cost of animal production.
”This makes feeds the most crucial input in livestock business.
”This sector can engage no fewer than five million Nigerians directly or indirectly as technical or skilled personnel.
”With its value chain, it can massively employ distributors, tools fabricators, operators and input suppliers among others,” he said
The minister said that if well harnessed, the livestock sector could contribute immensely to food security, improved household income and poverty reduction.
He said that Nigeria currently had no fewer than 1,000 feed mills and was ranked 40th among leading global livestock producing countries.
In a goodwill message, Minister of State for FCT, Dr Ramatu Aliyu, described livestock farming as crucial to the move towards food sufficiency.p
Represented by Malam Abubakar Ishaq, Secretary, Agricultural Secretariat FCT, the minister stated that livestock remained a major source of food to the citizenry.
She described the summit as relevant to the current realities in the nation’s agriculture sector.
Also speaking, Rep. Muntari Mohammed, Chairman, House Committee on Agricultural Production and Services reiterated the readiness of the legislature to support policies that would promote livestock production. (NAN)
