The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FAMRD), in collaboration with selected stakeholders in the agricultural sector, have embarked on the review of the existing National Animal Feed Policy Document (NAFPD), in order to mitigate the challenges facing the animal feed sector in Nigeria.
The Permanent Secretary, FAMRD, Dr. Ernest Umakhihe, while speaking during a consultative meeting that took place at the Agricultural and Rural Training Institute, ARMTI, Gudu, Abuja, disclosed that the exercise was aimed at providing a draft document ahead of the forthcoming 2nd Animal Feed Summit.
Umakhihe, who was represented by the Director Special Duties, Mrs. Fausat Lawal, recalled that the 1st Animal Feed Summit that was held between September 23 and 25, 2021, in Abuja, enabled the Ministry to successfully conduct the 1st National Animal Feed Summit, with the theme “Developing a road map for animal feed security in Nigeria.”
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The Permanent Secretary added that the summit attracted key stakeholders from the policy, research, and commerce arms of the feed industry and the broader livestock sub-sector, who prepared a roadmap for animal feed in the country.
He urged the participants to use the review event as a call to national duty to develop a well-reviewed animal feed policy tailored toward an actionable plan to attain sustainable animal feed security in the country.
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The Director, Department of Animal Husbandry Services, Mrs. Winnie Lai Solarin, revealed on her own that the summit started in 2020 with a zero draft document, adding that critical issues were raised on the need to strategically develop a comprehensive feed sector database, harness crop residues to boost feed security, and safeguard the environment.
Earlier, the Director, Animal Husbandry Services, FCT, Hajiya Umma Abubakar, remarked that the policy guide would provide comprehensive implementation of activities beyond local production and improve animal feed security in Nigeria.
