The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi has highlighted the importance of livestock production in the industrialisation of the country’s economy.
Speaking while inaugurating the 6th Council of the Nigerian Institute of Animal Science (NIAS), the Minister said the livestock sector is also one that can adequately engage youths and thereby ensure employment among the youth population which constitutes about two-thirds of the country’s population.
“Livestock production across all the value chains remains a formidable tool for the industrialisation of our economy and ensuring sustainable food and nutrition security. Livestock are important for the household economy and for the alleviation of poverty through sustainable income generation.
“In recognition of the above the current administration has programmes in place that will ensure that livestock production plays a critical role in our national economic development’, “the minister said.
The minister noted that the livestock industry in Nigeria has made tremendous progress in the last decade, and has grown into an organized and highly productive industry that contributes significantly to the Agricultural GDP.
Abdullahi however, said that the Nigerian Institute of Animal Science is a critical and important stakeholder that brings its regulatory activities to play in the sector to ensure standards are maintained by producers and other players along the value chains.
This according to the minister will lead to increased market access of our livestock products and foreign exchange earnings for the country.
“In view of the above, the ministry is positive that this Institute through the guidance of its Council will provide possible short-term and long-term solutions to build resilience and sustainability in the processing, marketing and utilization of livestock and livestock products in Nigeria,” the minister added.
Speaking on behalf of 29 members of the 6th Council of the Nigerian Institute of Animal Science, the President of NIAS, Professor Baba Yusuf Abubakar, assured the Minister that the Council will work to deliver the four Ministerial Action Points.
While presenting some requests, Professor Abubakar said “it is almost a decade since the NIAS Act was amended. Our profession is very dynamic and we must ensure a sustainable animal husbandry subsector that can contribute significantly to the agric GPD”.
“Hence, it is imperative that we bring our animal husbandry into the global space by adopting the best global practices.
“This is with a view to increased revenue generation and deployment of livestock production for employment and sustainability of livelihood. Consequently, in order to strengthen our regulatory function, there is an urgent need for a review and further amendment of the NIAS Act”.
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