Stakeholders in the pastoral livestock sector have lamented the lack of quality livestock feed in Nigeria.

They argued that despite the importance of livestock to Nigeria’s economy, farmers still face many challenges in the sector.

Stakeholders shared these concerns during the African Union Inter-African Animal Resources Bureau workshop on technical planning and implementation of the African Pastoral Markets Development Platform, held on Friday in Abuja .

“Despite the importance of livestock, farmers face many constraints, including the availability and accessibility of quality animal feed, long distances between production and consumption areas, lack of insurance in the reservation system, difficulties in locating storage facilities, among others,” the stakeholders point out. said.

Stakeholders also called for an efficient logistics system to reduce livestock transportation costs.

They said the move would improve the efficiency of the industry and improve the welfare of livestock during transport.

The workshop included representatives from Nigeria, the Republic of Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad and Cameroon.

Highlighting the importance of improving livestock transport logistics, the workshop noted that the success of the platform would depend on its ability to help farmers reduce travel distances and time, save on operational costs and to minimize stress on drivers and livestock.

The pastoral agriculture market in northern Nigeria, the workshop observed, is characterized by long supply chains between the region and markets in the south of the country, with transport distances often extending over thousands of kilometers.

As the industry grows, stakeholders have highlighted the need to prioritize the safety and welfare of animals and drivers during long journeys. They urged industry players to collaborate with government to invest in critical infrastructure throughout the supply chain, including feedlots, stockyards, various abattoirs, improved l the use of rail transport and the implementation of biosecurity practices.

They further called for more investment to support the resilience of the Northern pastoral industry by anticipating and responding to future challenges and opportunities. Infrastructure investments in roads, bridges and storage facilities, they noted, could significantly improve the viability and resilience of the industry.

Furthermore, stakeholders urged AU-IBAR to collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development and other agencies to implement a robust database to track animal health, reproductive cycles and productivity, enabling farmers to make informed decisions.

They also called on authorities in the Sahel region to streamline border crossing procedures and improve the efficiency and health standards of slaughterhouses and butcheries.

Earlier, AU-IBAR Director Dr. Huyam Salih, represented by APMD Platform Project Coordinator Ahmed Elbeltagy, highlighted that the platform aims to strengthen the livestock sector and protect rural incomes derived from meat and livestock products.

She described the APMD platform as a beacon of hope for millions of livestock farmers, saying: “The launch of the APMD platform comes at a pivotal time, enabling us to address existing challenges. By fostering collaboration and innovation, we can create opportunities for sustainable growth. This workshop is a crucial step towards developing strategies that empower pastoral communities and facilitate transformation.

She noted that the platform, implemented with the support of relevant agencies and private sector partners, aims to improve breeders’ access to markets, thereby making livestock farming more attractive and a source of employment and income. for Nigerians and other countries in the Sahel region. .

In his opening remarks to the workshop, the Minister of State in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Abdullahi, stressed that the importance of an improved and efficient production process in Pastoral agriculture cannot be overemphasized, as cattle breeding represents a significant part of the production process. part of the contribution of agriculture to the national gross domestic product.

He noted that promoting productive, resilient and healthy agropastoral systems has become a key priority for the Federal Government.

He stressed that the government is committed to pursuing initiatives that open up opportunities for small-scale farmers to access technology and significantly improve the country’s cattle herd.

AU-IBAR, with funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (B&MGF), establishes and operationalizes the APMD platform to enable adaptive and market-driven transformations in pastoralism and play a crucial role in promoting a inclusive agricultural transformation across Africa.

The APMD platform will influence, promote and provide strategic visibility to market-driven interventions, thereby facilitating pastoral integration into livestock markets among key stakeholders. The first