The Federal Government on Tuesday in Abuja, distributed animal food (feed) ingredients to livestock farmers and feed millers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Dr. Ernest Umakhihe, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said nutrition animal feeds were essential for the development and productivity of animals and food animals.
” In Nigeria, animal feed remains a challenge to animal husbandry practices, largely due to the 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, of Animal Husbandry Services, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
He said it was gratifying to know that the contribution of the Livestock sub-sector to the economy goes beyond the production of meat, milk, and egg.
“The livestock sub-sector supports over 1 billion people globally, accounting for over 40 percent of global agricultural gross domestic product (GDP) and provides over 33 percent of the world’s protein intake.
He said the event was in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration agenda to leverage the Agricultural sector for wealth creation, employment generation, and diversification of the economy.
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In a remark, Lai- Solarin said that the Ministry of Agriculture was determined to support the farmers and livestock farmers to improve their production process to achieve feed and food security.
“It is an established fact that feed constitutes about 70 percent 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 such knowledge that could make a difference.
A beneficiary, Mr. Eimoga Francis, Ampersand Farms, said the initiative would address the challenge of animal feed in animal husbandry practices.
The feed ingredients included, cereal grains, Maize, Salt, Groundnut, and milling by-products, among other raw materials.
