The Chairman, Board of Trustees, Federation of Agricultural Commodity Association of Nigeria (FACAN), Dr Victor Iyama, has said that Nigeria has the potential to increase its contribution to the global $1.72 trillion value of livestock through pastoral farming.
He described the Nigerian livestock industry as a national asset, valued at N30 trillion, with a projected annual growth rate of 1.2% until 2026.
Despite possessing the third-largest cattle herd in Africa, Nigeria faces a serious milk deficit of approximately 1 million tonnes, producing only 560,000 tonnes against a national demand of 1.56 million tonnes.
To address this, Dr. Iyama stressed the need for collaboration and synergy among stakeholders across the country. He noted that every region in Nigeria has the capacity to develop a profitable livestock industry.
He expressed support for the establishment of a dedicated Ministry of Livestock Development, arguing that it would empower the government to effectively address the specific challenges and needs of livestock producers.
Speaking further, Dr Iyama cited Australia’s successful pastoral farming practices, noting that this model is not confined to a particular region but can be implemented nationwide.
“Australian livestock production is among the most efficient systems in the world because it is properly positioned to respond to challenges evident in the industry,” he added.
Dr. Iyama advocated for a similar approach in Nigeria, involving both government and industry stakeholders, to create an environment conducive to investment and support producers in addressing challenges such as drought and volatile livestock prices.
The ongoing drought has further worsened the challenges faced by livestock producers, who are already struggling with high-interest rates and increasing production costs.
In response, the African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) recently held a workshop in Abuja aimed at discussing the technical planning and execution of the African Pastoral Markets Development (APMD) platform.
During the workshop, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, stressed the need to improve the efficiency of pastoral farming, with a particular focus on cattle farming.
He highlighted the role that cattle farming plays in Nigeria’s agricultural GDP and emphasized that the government is committed to fostering productive, resilient, and sustainable agropastoral systems.
Senator Abdullahi further outlined the government’s efforts to implement initiatives that would empower small-scale farmers, provide them with access to modern technology, and support their activities to enhance the country’s cattle stock.