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The Federal Government and the African Union-African Department Animal Resources Resilience Africa Feed Systems Project has established a multi-stakeholder platform to ensure producers have easy access to high-quality animal feed at competitive prices. .
A press release from the state Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security describes the RAFFS project as an initiative to respond to the triple-C crisis, which is causing a serious situation: COVID-19, climate change shocks, and the Russia-Ukraine conflict has been done Implications for feed and forage systems in Africa.
It is stated that this project aims to understand the impact of these crises and provide evidence-based short-term solutions to strengthen the sector's resilience.
Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security Aliyu Abdullahi said that the introduction of MSP is a strategic step in line with the government's commitment to sustainable food production and national food security.
According to Abdullahi, the platform not only facilitates farmers' access to feed, but also creates an integrated self-sufficiency system that fosters fair competition among suppliers.
The Minister noted that support for the livestock industry is a key element in increasing self-sufficiency in livestock products, and its implementation ensures adequate nutrition, promotes sustainable practices and contributes to national food security. It added that livestock farmers will be empowered as an integral part of the security system. Probably.
The country director of the International Livestock Research Institut Tunde Amore,noted that Nigeria spends huge amounts of money importing feed ingredients such as maize, soybeans and wheat to meet domestic production.
According to Amore, Nigeria imports millions of tonnes of animal feed and raw materials, mainly for cattle, poultry and pig farming.
To save the industry, Mr. Tunde advocated increasing local sourcing of raw materials for animal feed production to address supply issues and ensure sustainable development.
He also called for the expansion of agricultural land for intensive production of grass and fodder.
In recent years, feed and animal feed shortages have resulted in significant livestock losses, reduced livelihood opportunities, and increased costs for essential animal foods.
Through this project, the Federal Government and the continent will strengthen the knowledge and analysis ecosystem, identify innovative business models, engage more women, improve political engagement and address pressing challenges. hoped to foster partnerships for concerted action to address the issue.
