The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, has engaged stakeholders in South-West in reviewing the draft National Animal Feed and Fodder Policy Document to achieve the desired results in Feed industry
The engagement was also to achieve a roadmap for animal feeds and militate the challenges facing the sector in Nigeria.
The programme, comprises of stakeholders in the agric sector and Feed industry, was organised by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and food Security through the Department of Animal Husbandry Services.
The programme was held at the state Agricultural Development Programme office in Idi-Aba Abeokuta.
In his opening remark Dr Sabi Aliyu Abdullahi, the Minister of State, Federal Ministry of Agriculture Food Security, noted that State-level review of the document was necessary saying that the meeting would add value and enrich the document and make its implementations seemless
Abdullahi, who was represented by the Ministry Zonal Director South West zone, Mrs Olayinka Akeredolu,
disclosed that the programme was aimed at creating a quality standard of feed expected to be given to animals.
He disclosed that Ministry through the Department of Animal Husbandry Service had held the first and second National Animal Feed Summit in 2021 and 2023 respectively
He added that the Ministry had also conducted a stakeholder consultative meeting to review the Draft national animal feed and Fodder policy document, which attracted key stakeholders in the livestock Industry particularly the feed and fodder subsector.
He said that during the engagement, critical issues were raised on the need to strategically developed a comprehensive feed and fodder sector database, harness crop residue to boost feed security and safeguard the environment.
Prioritize efforts and investment in harnessing alternative feed resources, strengthen coordination of regulations and standards as well as mitigating the challenges of the high cost of the feed in the country.
“Today Stakeholders in the livestock Industry have come together to look at the document that has been produced, to see if there are errors to amend and if their will be additions for it to be acceptable by Nigerians and by the international communities.
“This policy document under review is majorly to address a quality standard feed consumed by our animals because when animal are fed with the right nutrient they would produce up to the optimal level.
“Many feed manufacturers engage in shape practices due to the of the cost of production that has gone extremely beyond them, so they go into sharp practice producing substandard feed.
“But if this policy is in place they will know what is expected of them and they will also know that if they do not comply with the regulation they would be sanctioned,”he said
He however urged participants to fully participate in the meeting,and pointing out their suggestions and contributions as well as paying attention to the details, noting that they should see it as a call to national duty.
Also speaking,the Ogun state Coordinator Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security Dr Oluwatosin Ayo-Ajayi, noted that after the review and when all the policy is being implemented, quality feed and feed materials would be available which would lead to a better animal production in the country.
She however, stated that Ogun state was in the forefront of animal production in Nigeria, adding that it was part of reasons Ogun state was chosen to host the south west arm of the programme.
” I can assure the people of Ogun that when the policy is adopted, it would boost the agricultural sector in the state most especially the livestock sector would experience a great improvement.
Mr Adeyemi Oshilano, Director of Livestock Services, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security Ogun State disclosed that the programme was decentralised to the geopolitical zone in country with participating state to include Kwara, Bauchi, Anambra and Ogun
According to Oshilano, when the policy is being adopted and implemented it would help in regulating substandard feed from the open market,boost food security in the state and also give assurance of eating quality and healthy meat.
He added that production of quality feeds would assure nigerians of exporting their animal products and as well promotes foreign exchange revenue and increase the economic potential of the country.
In her part, the Director Animal Husbandary Service in the Federal Ministry, Mrs Winnie Lai- Solarin, said feed security would address the recent crisis facing the feed industry especially the poultry Industry
Lai-solarin, represented by Mr Victor Egbon the Deputy director of Monogastric Department of Animal Husbandry Services, noted that animal feed account about 70 per cent of the cost of animal production, which makes it the most important factor in the livestock business.
She gave assurance that with contribution from stakeholders, the end result feed policy document would be of great benefit to the live stock industry interms of safety feed, and cost of feed
Also speaking, Mr Godwin Oyediji, a livestock consultant, stressed that there was need to increase animal protein production in Nigeria through having a save animal feed.
Oyediji, took the participants through the technical section, dividing the participants into groups and engaged them to study the draft policy document to map out errors and deliberate before it’s been validated for implementation.
According to him, the policy document must comply with the international transparency protocols that was why the inclusion of key stakeholders feed millars, Farmers, policymakers, industry operators, contribution was very important in drafting and reviewing the feed policy document.
