Nigeria’s Livestock subsector has a huge economic potential worth over N33 trillion annually which should be explored and harnessed,Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Ernest Umakhihe has said.
Umakhihe,who disclosed this during the inauguration of the Edo chapter of Animal Science Association of Nigeria (ASAN) held on Monday in Benin, noted that the subsector was estimated to contribute about 17 percent of the Agricultural Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 5% of the National GDP.
“As we all know the livestock sector is very vital to the socioeconomic development of the country and it represents an important source of high-quality animal protein.It provides about 36.5 percent of the total protein intake of Nigerians, generates employment, income, and earns foreign exchange for the country.
“The Edo state government through the ministry of Agriculture and Food Security is interested in improving livestock production hence the creation of animal husbandry department in the ministry. I urge you all to take advantage of this department to explore the huge potentials in the animal husbandry subsector,” he said.
Speaking, the Registrar of the Nigerian Institute of Animal Science (NIAS), Prof Eustace Iyayi commended the state government for creating a department of animal husbandry.
He said” As an institute, we going to key into the mandate of helping the state grow livestock to harness the potentials in the sector.I am confident that at a time when the Nigeria’s oil industry is failing, we will be able to tap into the N33 trillion huge potential earnings in the value chain”,he said.
In his remarks,the National President of ASAN, Raymond Isiadiino,applauded the initiative to inaugurate the Edo State chapter of the association.
He noted that in face of daunting challenges, the association has made landmark contributions to the advancement of the sub-sector and projected the animal scientist as a professional with unlimited potentials.
