From Okwe Obi, Abuja
The African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) has estimated a $1 billion investment opportunity for Nigeria’s feed and fodder sector.
The AU disclosed this at the High-Level Inventory and Investment Forum for Nigeria in Abuja, yesterday.
The theme of the conference was: ‘Harnessing Feed and Fodder Data for Sustainable Livestock Sector Development, Resilience, and Stability.’
Former Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 poll, Peter Obi, has asked Nigerian Christians to use the Easter period to pray for compassionate leaders who will share in their pains.
Obi, in an Easter message yesterday said that compassionate leaders always consider the consequences of their actions and inactions on the people.
He said: “At Easter, what Christians celebrate is the huge sacrifice Jesus Christ made for mankind.
“Therefore, there is no better time to pray for tender-hearted and caring leaders for our country than at Easter when we saw in Jesus a remarkable, compassionate leader.
“What is apparent in Nigeria today as insecurity and myriads of problems engulf the land is a visible abdication of responsibility by insensitive and indifferent leaders.
“Nigerians deserve better leadership than they are getting to turn the natural and human capital gifts from God to the benefit of the populace.”
He urged Nigerians across the globe never to despair in the face of any tribulations assuring that a new Nigeria is possible.
AU-IBAR Director Huyam Salih, explained that the project focuses on boosting feed and fodder production, establishing a comprehensive feed inventory and balance sheet, and developing a data dashboard to monitor availability across six African countries, including Nigeria.
Huyam pointed out that the initiative is designed to advance livestock development, improve food security, and stimulate growth in the feed and fodder industry.
She said: “The project involves developing a feed and fodder dashboard to capture production and availability data, enabling governments to take corrective action to support the sector.
“The dashboard will help identify gaps and shortages, allowing for early warning systems to be put in place.
She further stated that the project is being implemented in Nigeria (West Africa), Cameroon, (Central Africa), Uganda and Kenya, (East Africa) and Somalia as well and Zimbabwe (South Africa).
Salih noted that the high-level event is to hand over the feed and fodder balance and data dashboard to the government of Nigeria after being developed as one of the activities by this project.
“Feed and fodder gap in the continent is so high and represents like 48% of the feed and fodder subject to different climatic factors and commercial issues. The project has worked with the International Livestock Research Institute, ILRI, to prepare the inventory and the balance sheet for the animal feed and fodder in Nigeria and other countries.
“Besides that, we have developed the animal feed and fodder dashboard which will be capturing the production and the availability of feed and fodder and where there is a gap or a shortage.
“This will be captured by the system and dashboard and the work is done in collaboration with the National Bureau for Statistics so that the government will be able to take corrective action to support the production of animal feed and fodder,” she said.
Also, Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, affirmed its potential to drive investment, improve productivity, and strengthen the resilience of livestock farmers nationwide.
“These efforts have culminated in a reliable and scientifically validated Feed Inventory and Fodder Balance Report, providing an accurate picture of our feed resources, gaps, and opportunities.
“More importantly, this initiative has equipped us with tools to proactively plan for feed security, enhance market opportunities, and improve the livelihoods of millions of livestock farmers,” Maiha said.
More so, the Animal Production, Natural Resources Management and Resilience Expert for AU-IBAR, said Nigeria has a feed and fodder deficit of almost 10 percent.
According to him, the deficit is largely due to distribution issues, with the northern part of the country, where most livestock are found, lacking adequate fodder, while the southern states have an abundance of feed and fodder that often goes to waste.
“Our assessment has assessed that this feed and fodder in Nigeria is a $1 billion investment opportunity,” he said.