The Federal Government on Tuesday, distributed animal food (feed) ingredients to livestock farmers and feed millers in the FCT.
Speaking during the distribution of the items in Abuja, Dr Ernest Umakhihe, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said nutrition animal feeds were essential for development and productivity of animals, and food animals.
” In Nigeria, animal feed remains a challenge to animal husbandry practices, largely due to high cost of animal feeds, which are not readily available and where they are, they are not easily affordable by an average farmer,” he said.
Umakhihe, was represented by Mrs Winnie Lai- Solarin, Director, Animal Husbandry Services, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
He said it was gratifying to know that the contribution of Livestock sub-sector to the economy goes beyond the production of meat, milk and eggs.
”The livestock sub-sector supports over 1 billion people globally accounting for over 40 per cent of global agricultural gross domestic product (GDP) and provides over 33 per cent of the world’s protein intake.
He said the event was in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration agenda to leverage on the Agricultural sector for wealth creation, employment generation and diversification of the economy.
In an address, Lai- Solarin said that the ministry of Agriculture was determined to support the famers and livestock famers to improve their production process to achieve feed and food security.
” It is an established fact that feed constitutes about 70 per cent of the cost of livestock production.
” Therefore, subsidizing the cost of feed production will not only increase the farmers’ profit but also sustain their interest,” she said.
Lai- Solarin, who was represented by Mrs Florence Hamed, Chief Health and Animal Husbandry Tech, said Silage making and utilization was one of such knowledge that could make a difference.
Speaking on the sideline of the event, a beneficiary, Mr Eimoga Francis, Ampersand Farms, said the event was timely as it would address the challenge of animal feed in animal husbandry practices.
The reports that the feed ingredients included, cereal grains, Maize, Salt, Groundnut, milling by- products, among other raw materials.
