AKINWALE ABOLUWADE
The Oyo State Agribusiness Development Agency, in concert with the International Livestock Research Institute, held a one-day workshop on livestock development, on Wednesday, in Ibadan, the state capital.
This, according to the agricultural agencies, was part of efforts targeted towards meeting up with the increasing demand on livestock consumption in the country, and to as well raise the stake of livestock farming in the state.
The forum identified tax reduction, data analysis for livestock, capacity building and adequate security, as panacea to boosting livestock production in the country.
Dr. Tunde Adegoke Amole, Country Director for ILRI, Nairobi, Kenya, who doubles as technical partner for OYSADA, focusing, ‘Developing evidence-based plans, policies and investment options in the livestock sector,’ being the theme of the workshop, condemned the livestock importing culture in the country.
Describing commercial production of livestock as a boost for internally generated revenue, Amole said, “When talking about livestock generally, people are of the opinion that it is not a thing of the South-West. They always think it is an occupation for the Fulani people; they thought of people from somewhere else, but I can tell you we have livestock from the state.
“In fact, apart from Lagos, the highest level for point of consumption of livestock is Oyo State, so we are looking at if the people of the state are consuming livestock as such, they should also have capacity to produce livestock. Gone are the days when they say our climate does not support livestock production. Things have changed in the state, livestock is growing in the state.
“The dairy farmers here just confirmed that they collected 40,000 liters of milk and that is from Oyo State alone. That is the largest all over West Africa. We are here to discuss how to develop a road map for the livestock, to develop a milestone and a strategic development plan.
“To know where we are as far as livestock is concerned in the state, we must understand where we are in terms of livestock production and productivity and what is our desired future goals.”
In their separate presentations, a lecturer at the Department of Animal Science, University of Ibadan, Prof. Olugbenga Ogunwole, and a general manager at a diary producing company, Adekunle Olayiwola, noted that heavy taxation on food items was mean and unhelpful as it would push up the cost of production.
The duo harped on the need for availability of required finance and data to enhance proper planning, and urged the government to engage extension officers.
Dr Debo Akande, Executive Assistant to Governor Seyi Makinde on Agribusiness, who doubles as the Director-General of OYSADA, said, “The essence of this workshop is to bring together all the actors on livestock. More than often when we talk about agriculture, we focus always on crops. We thought that it was high time we started engaging ourselves around livestock.
“W have also realized that beyond the general strategy that we have on agribusiness and agriculture in the state, we don’t have a specific strategic document on livestock. We need to review all the policies to see how that can benefit the modern livestock value chain in agric business and to see how we can also expand the state’s economy through robust livestock production.
“Oyo State Government is highly interested to do all that is possible to see more of our youths in agribusiness either in crop production or livestock. We will continue to support our small holding farmers on this value chain and bring into the fold again diverse actors and investors in the area of livestock. That is what we are doing here today.
“At OYSADA, we are focusing the new frontiers, not that we are removing and creating new frontiers. This agency is now leading for the state. The recent statistics has shown the directions with this government, led by Governor Seyi Makinde. Just last week, I got a letter from NAERLS that showed that between 2019 and 2020, our crop production has been higher than what we had been doing since 2013. This is a data from the Federal Government.
“Beyond the crop production that we mentioned earlier such as cassava, soybean, maize, and yam, data also showed that the size of land that we are cultivating cumulatively another 40,000 hectares of land now.”
Dr Ken Dashiell, Deputy Director General, IITA, represented by Sore Zaina, described the conference as timely in view of population growth, and urged government to put infrastructure and right technology in place for the livestock sector to meet the needs of the people.
In attendance at the forum are the livestock farmers and other investors, the Miyetti Allah Association of Nigeria, researchers and policy makers.
