The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development , Alhaji Mohammed Sabo Nanono, has urged the government and the private industry to pay more attention to the Nigerian livestock industry.
He noted that the industry which is worth over N33 trillion forms 18 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the agricultural sector.
He made this known in Abuja while inaugurating the 5th Council of the Nigerian Institute of Animal Science (NIAS), adding that the recent happening in the country does not go well with the development of the livestock industry.
His words, “The nation needs to quickly transit from conflict era to becoming a net exporter of premium beef, emulating and surpassing the enviable achievements of countries like Uruguay which has metamorphosed over the recent years into a leading exporter of premium beef to the EU, US and the Chinese markets.
“It took Uruguay years of branding, food safety and quality reforms as well as investment to get to that enviable market leadership. It will take us nothing less. I think we have allowed ourselves to be delayed by emotions and sentiments in this very important industry. This is an industry that forms 18% of the GDP of the agricultural sector and worth over N33 trillion, no county on earth will play with such industry.
Nanono however called on the Institute to play a lead role in proffering the needed solution to the current incessant conflicts between herders and sedentary farming communities in Nigeria. He added that the institute has a collection of the requisite technical expertise in all disciplines of animal husbandry to effectively facilitate the implementation of the plan.
He also called for the establishment of additional Animal Husbandry Research Institutes so as to compete favourably within the sub-regional, regional and the global livestock space.
