FG committed to boost economic development through agriculture - Ogbeh


The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, says the Federal Government is committed to use agriculture as a veritable tool to promote economic development and curb youth restiveness.
Ogbeh said this at a ``Retreat on Livestock and Dairy Development in Nigeria’’ organised by African Business Roundtable, in Abuja on Tuesday.
"We will establish ranches on five hectares of land each in 13 states‎ in the country,’’ he said.
According to the minister, the Federal Government would provide grazing reserves for the pastoralist.
``We need to give them access to water and grass, a Fulani man also deserves to live a comfortable life.
"When the cattle are stable, have access to water and quality grass, their milk production could rise from one litre per day to about four litres per day.
"Our milk production is extremely poor with a cow producing about one litre of milk per day compare to Brazil and Saudi Arabia that produce 30-49 litres of milk from a cow per day.
"The only alternative left for us is to intensify our efforts on production of what can be produced locally and seek partnership, collaboration with private investors to develop our local capacity.
"We are open to suggestions and criticism; we do not claim to know it all.
“We are looking at partnering with the private sector as we want the system to be driven by the private sector," he said.
Mr Shehu Ahmed, Permanent Secretary in the ministry, said the retreat was timely when the nation's security was being threatened by frequent farmers/pastoralists conflicts.
"The current Nigeria livestock figures stand at an estimated 19.5 million cattle, 41 million sheep, 72.5 million goats with a very low productivity.
"It is for this reason that the country has not been able to meet its protein needs and this lead to massive importation of animal protein to bridge the gap of demand and supply."
He said the retreat would create an enabling environment to attract private sector investment for the development of livestock and dairy in the country.
According to Ahmed, this will also generate employment and create wealth through Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises (LIFE).
NAN reports that the retreat with the theme: Setting an agenda for commercialising Livestock and Dairy Commodity Value Chain," brought stakeholder together to brainstorm on issue affecting the sub-sector. 

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