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Animal science institute inducts new scientists

This was revealed during the opening of the 2nd joint meeting of the Animal Science Association of Nigeria (ASAN) and Nigerian Institute of Animal Science…

This was revealed during the opening of the 2nd joint meeting of the Animal Science Association of Nigeria (ASAN) and Nigerian Institute of Animal Science (NIAS) held in Abuja.
Professor Plucid Njoku, President of the Nigerian Institute of Animal Science said the institute mainstreams the current need of Nigeria, to systematically harmonize strategies that will review, develop, sharpen and implement standards for the livestock industry, as well as train animal scientists on standard operating procedure for the various activities in animal husbandry.

Njoku stressed that while government, through its agricultural transformation agenda has made significant progress in the area of crop production, the story is not the same in the livestock sector. “We must note that in the livestock subsector, the transformation programme has not advanced at the anticipated pace, especially when we recognize the great inherent potentials of the subsector to the national economy and the critical essence of animal protein to human development and wellbeing,” he said.
Professor Njoku expressed concern that livestock development seems to be threading on the beaten tracks of the obsolete policies of yester years and to have been forgotten in the current great strides of President Goodluck Jonathan’s programme in agriculture.
Dr Louise Setshwaelo, Country Representative of Food and Agricultural Organisation, FAO,  an organ of the United Nations Organisation, in her address said the livestock industry in Nigeria has substantial capacity to contribute to the country’s economy “than we see currently.” The industry is, however playing its part in reducing poverty, generating decent employment, improving food security and accelerating rural development.
Setshwaelo stressed also  that “Nigeria, like many countries in sub-Saharan Africa, still needs to build necessary capacities, to implement internationally recognized standards relevant for a progressive livestock industry,” adding that mobilizing investments for development of the livestock subsector will require building investor confidence in the industry; the way it operates and its economic viability and sustainability.

Former Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development Alhaji Bukar Tijani, addressing the inductees stated that livestock accounts for up to 40% of the agricultural sector, noting that Nigeria has more than 16 million herds of cattle, 30 to 40 million of both sheep and goats, and 140 million flock of birds and the production of fishery which give about 700 metric tons per annum.
 “When you look at the livestock industry as a subsector, it contributes a lot to our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and part of the 44% which agriculture contributes, actually livestock plays a major role,” the minister said.

He said the ministry under the present agricultural transformation agenda, is looking at four value chains under the livestock subsector: one, beef cattle including sheep and goats; the second is the area of poultry. Shika brown stands out very clearly, it gives good meat, eggs and can be grown in any part of Nigeria; third, in the area of diary. We want to improve on dairy. FAO recommendation is about 20 litres per person per year.
 The fourth area is hide and skin, and processing it into leather. Nigerian leather is among the best in the world and government has been putting heads with farmers and also consumers because in country, has a knack for eating “kpomo” which is the hide and skin. “If we have to grow, we have to quickly make adjustment so that we can get our shoes and bags instead of making it into delicacies. We must produce plenty to serve all purposes.”

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