Nigeria loses about $14billion annually to the incessant conflicts between farmers and herders,Dr Andrew Kwasari, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Agriculture, has said
He spoke in Abuja on Tuesday in his presentation at the Summit on National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP) with the theme: “Postioning The Nigerian Livestock Sector For 21st Century Economy,”
The programme was jointly organised by Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and Agriculture Correspondents Association of Nigeria (ACAN).
Kwasari, said the Federal Government in collaboration with states has begun the implementation of the National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP)2019–2028,in order to resolve the lingering crises between farmers and herders as well as reposition the livestock sector in the country,
According to him, already 22 states have sent letters of expression of interest to the office of the chairman of National Economic Council and Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, adding that 10 States have set up the States Livestock Transformation Office.
He said four states have identified and mapped out the gazetted grazing reserves in their domain as well as taken-off the implementation of the NLTP in earnest.
Speaking, Dr. Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that the bulk of Nigerian labour force is engaged in various forms of agricultural enterprises especially along the livestock value chain with over 30% women and young adults depending largely on livestock for their income, livelihoods and sustenance.
He added that the livestock sector remains a major component of the agricultural economy and plays a significant role in the overall national economy.
The disclosed that livestock sector
accounts for about 2-5% of the National Gross Domestic Product(GDP) and 10% of the Agricultural GDP.
He said: “Recent estimates show that the livestock sector is endowed with abundant livestock resources with about 26.4 million cattle, 88.2 million goats, 50.3 million sheep, 8.9 million pigs, 465 million chickens, 36.4 million ducks, 3.8 million turkeys, 5.5 Rabbits, 353,173 camels, and 1,234,284 donkeys (FMARD 2021), thus making the nation the topmost livestock producer in West Africa.
“In spite of this potential, it is estimated that the per capita consumption of animal source foods stands at 8 litres of milk, 9 kg of meat and 3.5 kg or 55 eggs per year which are very low consumption levels when compared with the global averages of 44 litres of milk and 19 kg of meat, respectively.”
Abubakar further identified the challenges plaguing the livestock sector including low breed quality, poor animal husbandry practices, limited access to quality inputs and finance, weak animal health and extension service delivery, livestock herder and crop farmer conflicts, cattle rustling, banditry, and other security challenges.
As part of the challenges, he mentioned
inconsistent government policies, poorly functioning institutional settings, linkages, regulations and standards, which have failed to bring about significant and sustainable transformation in the sector and limited impact on livelihood of actors along the sector’s value chains.
He said the measure will fast track its implementation, monitoring, evaluation, learning and accountability for the
results.
He further called for the strengthening of advocacy and public awareness about the NLTP, which is critical in building stakeholders’ understanding and clarifying public perceptions about the plan.
