The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) and other relevant partners including the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), its sister organisation, PREMIUM TIMES, and Sahel Consulting Agriculture and Nutrition Limited, are organising a National Animal Feed Summit in Abuja today.
The summit, themed: “Harnessing Alternative Feed Resources for Sustainable Animal Feed Supply,” is the second edition to be held in the country and it is billed to hold between 11 and 12 April in Nigeria’s capital city.
According to the organisers, the summit is the convergence of key stakeholders from the private and public sectors, feed millers (toll, commercial and on-farm) and academia, to chart the way forward for the development of Nigeria’s feed sector.
It has a primary focus on feed value chain development, National Animal Feed policy document, National Strategic Feed Reserve and National Alternative Feed Ingredient Development.
The first edition of the Animal Feed Summit was held between 23 and 25 September 2021 in Abuja and a draft feed policy document was developed.
|
|
|---|
Some of the critical issues raised then were the need to strategically develop a comprehensive feed sector database, harness crop residues to boost feed security and safeguard the environment, and prioritise efforts and investment in harnessing alternative feed resources amongst others.
READ ALSO: CJID holds Climate Change media fellowship
This year, the organisers said, the summit will feature robust conversations on ways to enhance understanding among policymakers and the general public on the importance of the National Animal Feed Policy, value chain development, National Strategic Feed Reserve and National Alternative Feed Ingredients.
During the event, CJID and PREMIUM TIMES are expected to engage experts about the role of media in the development of the agricultural sector through a panel discussion tagged; “The Impact of Insecurity, Climate Change, Post-Harvest on Food Security in Nigeria, and The Role of the Media in the Development of the Agricultural Sector”.
The panel sessions are expected to feature agricultural experts across the value chain including farmers, processors, climate change experts, and media professionals.
PREMIUM TIMES reporters are at the event to bring you the details of the summit as events unfold…
Live:
3:44 p.m.
3:21 p.m.
3:06 p.m.
2:50 p.m.
2:34 p.m.
Speaking on quality assurance, Mrs Omotosho said those who are into feed milling should have their protocol for receiving their materials. They should have facilities for testing the materials they are receiving, she said.
She noted that the nation needs a feed central laboratory in Nigeria with properly calibrated equipment for feed millers.
In his intervention, Mr Adetayo said there is a need to do more surveys to add more feed resources to existing data bank.
2:30 p.m.
On his part, Adekeye Adetayo, a crop pasture expert, said in an attempt to feed animals, experts must not create another problem for the environment.
He said degraded lands can be converted into pasture cultivation in an effort to curb climate change effect.
In a swift intervention, Mrs Ebenebe said the integrated farming system is the right way to go in order to curb the emission of greenhouse gases as a result of agricultural activities in the environment.
2:15 p.m:
Speaking on the regulatory framework for supporting the utilisation of innovative technology for feed production, Godwin Oyediji, the founder of Animal Science Association of Nigeria, said the nation needs regulation to support the upstream industry in Nigeria .
He said Nigeria has so many regulations and that in any standard regulation, there is a need for proper consensus.
1:44 p.m:
The first-panel session of the day has commenced. The panelists are discussing the theme “Achieving feed and food security in Nigeria through the commercialisation of alternative feed utilisation” and the session is being moderated by the Sahel Consulting partners.
One of the discussants, Mope Omotosho, a registered animal scientist, said agricultural practices are available but the farmers are not aware.
“We need extension services to achieve this,” she said.
She noted that as it is now, by the time Nigeria start compounding or processing feed for animal, the nation would be in trouble because it is not harnessing its potential effectively.
Mrs Omotosho explained that in the feed milling industry, the major crops being used are maize and Soya beans and the nation needs to improve its production level.
While making her presentation on the “Prospects of Alternative Feed Resources Utilisation (Insect)”, Cordelia Ebenebe, a professor of Animal Science at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, said insects are essential components in the production of highly nutritious animal feeds.
She said insects have the potential in meeting the needs of feed milling and poultry industries.
Speaking on insect availability, Mrs Ebenebe described insects as ubiquitous, adding that they have adapted to many environments and that they have high rate of multiplication making them available at all times except for seasonal ones
Mrs Ebenebe said the more reason why farmers should use insect meals is because they contain Bioactive substances such as Antimicrobial peptides, Antioxidants, Immune system stimulation and microbiota modulation.
With these bioactive substances in livestock feeds, she said it will help develop the immune system of the livestock, preventing the animals from falling sick unnecessarily.
In his presentation, Yarama Ndirpaya, Director, Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria, said Nigeria is facing a feed and food security crisis that is compounded by the COVID-19 global pandemic and its effects on the food value chain in the country.
He added that the pandemic, insecurity, climate change and post-harvest losses, among others, have significantly disrupted already fragile value chains across the country, including people’s ability to produce, process, and distribute food.
He said Nigeria’s animal feed sector remains underdeveloped, largely due to high production costs 70 per cent of the operational costs of most poultry, aquaculture and other livestock operations go to feed.
Climate change has affected human lives and has changed the world, he said.
In his presentation, Hakeem Ajeigbe, a research partner with the Center for Dryland Agriculture, Bayero University, Kano, urged farmers to increase dry season cultivation of grains including legumes for food, feed and crop residue.
He said long-duration photosensitive cereals are essential for high biomass production (silage/hay) in feed production.
The President of the Potato Farmers Association, Daniel Okafor, during his presentation on potatoes as an alternative feed for livestock, urged researchers to train farmers to know more about extension services.
Mr Okafor said farmers need more irrigation and water pump to be able to produce more feed for both humans and livestock sustainably.
While making her presentation on the “Prospects of Alternative Feed Resources Utilisation (Insect)”, Cordelia Ebenebe, a professor of Animal Science at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, said insects are essential components in the production of highly nutritious animal feeds.
She said insects have the potential in meeting the needs of Feed milling/ Poultry Industries.
Speaking on insect availability for the purpose, Mrs Ebenebe described insects as Ubiquitous (they are everywhere).
She noted that insects have adapted to many environments and that they have they have high rate of multiplication making them available at all times except for seasonal ones.
DAY 2
10:30 a.m
Day 2 activities at the summit venue have commenced. Presentation on the prospect of alternative Feed Resources Utilisation (crops and Insects) are ongoing.
6:00 p.m: All the groups have completed their presentation of findings from the technical sessions.
It’s the end of deliberation and presentations for Day 1.
Event continues tomorrow.
4:20 p.m: Presentation of findings from the technical session of the summit has commenced.
1:25 p.m: The technical session of the summit commences. The Deputy Director, Animal Husbandry and Services at the ministry, Ako Joseph, presented the overview of the Animal feed policy.
All participants from the ministry have been divided into different groups to review the draft of the policy.
The minister explained that the animal feed market is characterised by a mix of small-scale, traditional methods and large-scale modern methods. He added that there are challenges such as lack of access to credit and markets, low investment in research and development, which limit the ability of animal feed sector to innovate and improve production methods.
To meet the increasing demand for animal feed in Nigeria, the minister said there is a need for innovation and technology to develop sustainable and efficient production methods which will support small-scale and rural communities through extension services training and other support.
1:00 p.m: All the invited guests and participants are taking group photographs with the Agriculture Minister.
12:45 p.m: Mr Abubakar, the agriculture minister, in his remark said the theme of the summit aligns with the vision of the Nigerian government for the sector.
He said low investment in research and development is limiting the efficiency of the sector.
Mr Abubakar noted that there is a need to develop technology to support the sector.
Partnerships of all concerned stakeholders is essential for sustainable animal feed to be achieved, he added.
The FMARD Director, Department Cooperative, Abubakar Jibril, in his goodwill message said a “cooperative” is a group of people coming together to achieve efficiency.
He said not less than 40 per cent of cooperatives are involved in the livestock sub-sector.
Mr Jibril said the Nigerian feed sector is being threatened because the feed required by animals is being consumed by human beings.
He said the summit is an important forum to promote and achieve sustainable viable feed sector.
12:28 p.m: The chief host of the summit and Nigeria’s Agriculture Minister, Mohammad Abubakar, arrives the venue of the Summit.
11: 43 a.m: It’s time for tea break and participants await the arrival of the Minister of Agriculture, Muhammed Abubakar.
In his goodwill message, Hope Usieta , the Executive Director, Leventis Foundation, Nigeria, said the summit theme is relevant and timely.
He said he hopes the deliberation would serve its purpose.
11: 26 a.m. In his remarks, Francis Abeke, president, Nigerian Society for Animal production, said: “We have worked and the shelves are filled up but how do we transfer this knowledge into practical solutions?”
He said it is time for action and there is need to transform research works into solutions.
“It is time to move from hearing to practical,” he added.
“Let’s convert these ingredients and let a farmer be able to obtain a bag of ruminant feed as the poultry farmers do.”
On his part, CJID director, Mr Oluwatola, explained that protein intake comes from livestock and there is a need to improve Nigeria’s protein intake by improving the feed sector.
He added that there are challenges that the industry needs to solve.
Mr Oluwatola said this is the first time the nation would be fortunate to have proper dialogue and that the media will be providing an interphase in this regard.
He appreciated the ministry and other partners for agreeing to organise the summit.
The Managing Partner, Sahel Consulting Agriculture and Nutrition Limited, Temi Adegoroye, is delivering his opening remarks.
He said the company has supported over 1500 farmers across the country in the production of animal feed.
He acknowledged the efforts of the CJID for chosing to establish a synergy between the food system and the media.
Mr Adegoroye said he believes that the insight generated at the event will promote the design of initiatives that will support the sector.
11:03 a.m: Dignitaries are being invited to the high table.
Ime Umoia, representing the FMARD Permanent Secretary, Ernest Umakhihe, is delivering his opening remarks.
He noted that the summit is coming at a time when the vision of the federal government is articulated to change approach. He said the private sector will remain in the lead while the government support by providing enabling environment.
10:58 a.m: The Master of Ceremonies has asked participants to recite the National Anthem as the event commences.
10:31 a.m: Some of the invited guests, including various directors at FMARD have arrived the venue.
CJID Executive Director, Tobi Oluwatola, is seated for the event to commence.
Participants and representatives across the different states in the country are also introducing themselves.
10:30 a.m: All is set for the commencement of the event. The master of the ceremony, Mabel Obe, welcome the participants to the event.
As of 9:43 a.m., Participants and guests are still arriving at the venue, and registration is ongoing.
Support PREMIUM TIMES' journalism of integrity and credibility
Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can ensure the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy, and a transparent government.
For continued free access to the best investigative journalism in the country we ask you to consider making a modest support to this noble endeavour.
By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you are helping to sustain a journalism of relevance and ensuring it remains free and available to all.
DonateTEXT AD: Call Willie - +2348098788999
