South West accounts for over 75per cent of about 1000 feed mills in Nigeria ― Minister

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Muhammed Abubakar, has said that the South Western part of the country accounts for over 75 per cent of feed mills in the country.

The minister who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Ernest Umakhihe, also said that Nigerian feed mills grew from 2 in 1957 to over 1000 presently thereby placing Nigeria as the 40th leading country in livestock feed production in the world.

Dr Abubakar who said this at the 1st National Animal Feed Summit held in Abuja noted that the importance of nutritious animal feeds for the full development and productivity of animals cannot be overemphasised.

“According to 2016 data, Nigeria feed industry produces an average of 5.5million metric tonnes of animal feed per annum comprising 85per cent poultry feeds, and with commercial ruminant and swine feed coming up in the industry, it will produce not less than 50 million metric tonnes per annum.

“Even with this, the feed sector has the potential to engage over 20 million Nigerians, as the industry is yet to reach 25per cent of its market size.

“It is a positive development that, from only 2 feed mills in 1957, Nigeria now has over 1,000 feed mills and is recognized as the 40th leading country in livestock feed production in the world.

“This potential notwithstanding, the industry expansion remains tilted to the South West which accounts for not less than 75per cent of total installed and operating feed mills in Nigeria.”

The minister said animal feed accounts for over 70 per cent of the cost of animal production, thereby making it the most important consideration in the livestock business.

He said Nigeria’s animal feed sector is faced with non-readily available feed resources, largely due to the high cost of production, which in turn makes feed almost unaffordable for an average farmer.

“To transform animal feed sector, Nigeria must embark on livestock feed production, industrialization, Feed Value Chain Development, Development of National Animal Feed and Feed Safety Policy, Establishment of National Strategic Feed and Feed Ingredient Reserve Centre, National Alternative Feed Ingredient Development, Promotion and Commercialization of Ruminant and Micro-livestock Feeds,” the minister said.

Dr Abubakar said the government will also step up on its development plan to provide incentives to feed millers and agribusiness companies to locate in rural areas where feed ingredients are largely available.

He said the incentives will also improve the level of education of farmers on modern animal and feed production techniques, and support various research institutes in developing alternative feed ingredients in providing animal feeds to ameliorate the effects of the high cost of feed.

“As Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, the issue of animal feed and human food security is a priority on my agenda. I am aware that the Ministry has been committed to the development of the nation’s feed industry by making budgetary provision for capacity building on Alternative Ingredients such as cassava peels and the cocoa pod with the supply of cottage feed-block mould in some states in the East and West of Nigeria based on comparative advantage.

“To support the livestock farmers alleviate the cost of feed, the Ministry procured and distributed ruminant feed concentrates, salt licks, and finished feeds to small-holder farmers. Equally, Mr President approved the release of 5000Mt of maize from the Strategic Food Reserve to Poultry Association of Nigeria for the Feed Industry,” he added.

In his address, the Chairman Senate Committee on Agriculture, Senator Abdullahi Adamu said constraints associated with seasonal availability and quality of feed in Nigeria is one of the root causes of a long-standing crisis in the Nigerian livestock industry.

Senator Adamu who was represented by the Chairman Senate Committee on Police Affairs, Senator Halliru Jika said the summit addresses one of the major priorities of the current administration.

He said Feed directly impacts the growth rate, production capacity and health status of the animals.

Senator Adamu said the government also has a critical role to play in creating an enabling environment for major players in the animal feed industry, therefore a move towards attaining animal feed and nutrition security in Nigeria is smart and timely.

“The summit need to look into small and large ruminant feeds in line with some state governments policies of promoting ranching by enacting an Anti-Grazing law in their states, there are huge potentials in that area as some companies are already into production of palliated grasses,” he added.

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