Nigeria Must Adopts Botswana Formula to Grow Local Livestock Industry-- Livestock Experts

..... call for local livestock industry development

The Managing Director, Chanan Elo’a Integrated and dairy expert, Mr. Udeme Etuk has challenge the country to adopt Botswana Formula to grow the local industry of Livestock.

Nigeria is said to a major producer of livestock in sub-Saharan Africa as its cattle population is estimated at 20 million. Nigeria is the largest importer of milk in the region, with an annual bill of $1.3 billion.

According to him, one of Botswana’s greatest assets is rangelands. He said there are various facilities to help farmers export livestock. For instance, he said the ranches have feedlots and abattoirs.

He said:

“Botswana has a very advanced livestock industry. They converted the Kalahari Desert to a conducive place to breed cattle. They have also domesticated buffalos for the production of beef and milk.”

He added: “The government has banned the importation of dairy products completely and subsidized the production of fodder and other related products needed by the livestock industry. They are presently Africa’s major exporter of beef to Europe.

He furthered that Nigeria as a country has the potential to feed itself and also meet the demands of big markets abroad if there was enough support for farmers to seriously take up small stock production.

......................... call for local livestock industry development

Etuk added Botswana has an over $5 billion livestock industry, with all its international markets and their strict veterinary requirements. According to the data from the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), Botswana’s herd is put at 2.1 million.

Also reacting to how to boost livestock farming, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has unveiled a university-based revival programme for the poultry sector by releasing N36 billion to poultry farmers.

According to CBN Deputy Governor, Economic Policy, Dr Okwu Nnanna, who represented the CBN Governor at a meeting, the objective of the programme is to produce chickens and eggs to reduce the importation as well as close the existing demand and supply gaps in the country.