FG, AU collaborate to overcome feed shortages

The Federal Government, in collaboration with the African Union-Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources, has launched the Resilient African Feed and Fodder Systems (RAFFS) Project, a multi-stakeholder platform aimed at ensuring livestock producers can access high-quality animal feed at competitive prices.

A statement from the Ministry of State for Agriculture and Food Security highlighted that the RAFFS Project is a strategic response to the compounded challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and the Russia-Ukraine conflict, all of which have severely disrupted African feed and fodder supply chains. The initiative seeks to assess the impact of these crises and develop evidence-based, short-term solutions to enhance resilience in the livestock sector.

Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Aliyu Abdullahi, described the launch of the multi-stakeholder platform as a key step towards fulfilling the government’s pledge to sustainable food production and national food security. Abdullahi emphasized that the platform would not only streamline access to animal feed for producers but also establish an integrated self-sufficiency system, fostering fair competition among suppliers.

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The Minister underscored the importance of supporting the livestock industry to boost self-sufficiency in animal products, ensuring proper nutrition, promoting sustainable practices, and empowering livestock producers as essential contributors to the national food security framework.

Highlighting the scale of current challenges, Amole noted that Nigeria imports millions of tonnes of animal feed and raw materials annually, primarily for cattle, poultry, and pig farming. To address this, Tunde advocated for increased local sourcing of raw materials for animal feed production, which would alleviate supply issues and support sustainable industry growth. He also called for the expansion of farmed land dedicated to intensive grass and animal feed production.

In recent years, the scarcity of feed and fodder has led to significant livestock losses, diminished livelihoods, and increased costs of essential livestock-derived foods. Through the RAFFS Project, the Federal Government and the African Union aim to enhance the knowledge and analytical ecosystem, identify innovative business models, engage more women in the sector, improve policy engagement, and foster partnerships for coordinated action to tackle these urgent challenges.