Eustace Iyayi, registrar and chief executive officer of the Nigerian Institute of Animal Science (NIAS), has underscored the important role of technology and innovation in transforming the nation’s N13-trillion livestock industry into a major source of revenue.
Iyayi made this assertion at a press conference ahead of the 9th ASAN-NIAS Joint Annual Meeting slated to take place November 15–18 in Abuja. The meeting’s theme this year is “Improved Technology: A Key Strategy for Enhanced Livestock Productivity and National Economic Development.” Tagged “Abuja 2020”
New innovations are needed in order to enable producers to monitor herd health in real time, prevent disease outbreaks and optimize nutrition as consumers continue to demand better animal welfare and improved sustainability across the livestock sector.
Greenhouse gas emissions, particularly those of methane, have been shown to increase relative to herd sizes. However, mitigation strategies such as dietary manipulation and biotechnologies can be used to reduce per-animal emissions.
Emissions from manure storage can also be reduced using biological and thermochemical conversion technologies with the added benefit of producing bio-energy while treating livestock waste.
Iyayi explained that the annual meeting is jointly organized by the Nigerian Institute of Animal Science and the Animal Science Association of Nigeria, which is the umbrella body of all animal scientists within the country.
“This year’s conference is the 9th Joint Annual Meeting to be organised by the two bodies with the objective of addressing issues and challenges facing the animal husbandry in Nigeria,” noted the NIAS leader.
“The meeting which was originally scheduled for November 1–4 will now hold from 15–18 November 2020. This is the sequel to the nationwide protest and resultant security challenges.”
According to Iyayi, the executive secretary of the TETFund, Elias Bogoro, will deliver the keynote address. Minister of Agriculture Mohammed Nanono and Senate Committee Chairman on Agriculture Abdullahi Adamu will also be in attendance.
