The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development has expressed its readiness to partner with the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) on the utilization of locally fabricated and affordable stover chopper machines designed to convert crop residues into animal feed with up to 90 percent efficiency.
The move was disclosed in a statement released by Ben Bem Goong, Director, Information and Public Relations of the Ministry and was made available to AgroNigeria on Wednesday in Abuja.
According to the statement, the Honourable Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhta Maiha, made this known when he received a delegation from ICRISAT in his office in Abuja on Wednesday, October 15, 2025.
Maiha stated that Nigeria’s agricultural challenges can be turned into opportunities through strategic collaboration on crop-livestock integration, machinery accessibility, and strengthened extension services to drive productivity and sustainability.
“People can take the grains, the foliage, and the residue. Everything can be turned into animal feed.
“This innovation will not only reduce waste but also improve the availability of affordable feed for our livestock farmers,” the Minister said.
He urged ICRISAT to begin by leveraging the crop varieties currently available before expanding into grass and pasture cultivation that can be integrated with crop residue utilization.
Maiha also called on the Institute to intensify sensitization efforts among farmers and stakeholders using local languages to promote the adoption of residue-based animal feed as a cost-effective and sustainable alternative.
“We must take this message to the grassroots in a language our farmers understand,” he said. “It is time to see crop residue not as waste, but as a valuable input that strengthens our livestock sector.”
Reaffirming the Ministry’s commitment to the partnership, the Minister disclosed that discussions are ongoing with state governors to advance livestock development nationwide.
“We are commencing with five grazing reserves across Adamawa, Plateau, the FCT, and other selected states,” Maiha added.
In his remarks, Dr. Ignatius Ijantiku Angarawai, Senior Scientist for Sorghum Breeding and ICRISAT Country Representative for Nigeria, stated that the Institute, in collaboration with Crop Mandate NARES, has developed dual-purpose sorghum and millet varieties that support both grain and fodder production.
His words: “Our research shows that birds fed with Kaura sorghum recorded an eight-kilogram weight gain over those fed with maize.
“This clearly positions sorghum as a viable substitute in poultry feed production and an important driver of feed security in Nigeria.”
He reiterated ICRISAT’s readiness to collaborate with the Ministry in supporting the Nigeria Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy (NL-GAS) through the design of extension messages for dissemination via the Farmer Field School approach and the development of a policy framework on staffing strategy and recruitment processes.
