The dream of stakeholders in the livestock sector is an industry, which provides sought-after quality products to the benefit of Nigerians. Under various auspices, they have charted the way forward for animal health, welfare and food safety. DANIEL ESSIET reports.
Globally, livestock master plans help governments prioritise their development strategy objectives.
Hence, since 2013, the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), based in Kenya, has been providing technical support to African countries to develop their livestock master plans.
For ILRI, making a robust development plan is the foundation for achieving priorities and outcomes in the industry.
In Nigeria, ILRI has shown interest in partnering the government to increase the adoption of climate-smart innovations in livestock-based production. Research is geared towards realising climate-smart feeding practices and adaptive breeds to boost livestock production.
An ongoing study by ILRI scientists has shown why cattle are producing quality beef in the value chain. The institute has identified the need for more technical support for the sector, including capacity development and farmers’ empowerment. There are efforts to help Nigeria become self-sufficient in domestic livestock production in the years to come.
Analysts have pointed to the demand for animal foods and the need to address challenges in the livestock production and feed systems, and implement the master plans to help smallholder farmers transform their businesses into profitable ones.
So far, Lagos is among states that are driving their agricultural development master plan. However, one of the more crucial components is the red meat sector.
Its red meat plan is expected to support integrated growth and ensure benefits for meat producers and consumers of animal-source foods as well as enhance the livelihoods of butchers and support the creation of livestock businesses.
Long-term development of the red meat sector, Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture, Ms. Abisola Olusanya, noted, was critical, if the nation was going to produce healthy animals for food security.
Given the breadth of its market, the state government has adopted a strategic approach to identify the opportunities for red meat for investors. For the government, the sub-sector represents one area to boost gross domestic product (GDP) contribution, job creation and rural development.
In furtherance of this, the government is partnering livestock stakeholders to establish and build strategic partnerships that unlock catalytic investments, critical for the successful implementation of its plans.
Also, keeping cows and other healthy and disease-free, she added, would only be possible with the support of experts.
She said: “As a medium- to long-term strategy, the Ministry of Agriculture launched the Lagos State Five-Year Agriculture and Food System Roadmap last year with one of the focal sectors being the development of the red meat value chain. I am happy to inform you that the state has started the implementation of the cattle feedlot at Igbodu for increased local production of hygienic meat and reduction of dependency on imports from other states.
“As a form of improvement, the government is in the process of recruiting more veterinary doctors to mitigate the effect of the current dearth in the distribution of veterinary doctors to livestock estates and settlements with a ratio of about 1:200. The low access to veterinary doctors in the veterinary centres in the state encourages some farmers to resort to using unapproved antibiotics for their livestock.”
According to her, the government’s efforts was challenged by reoccurrence of zoonotic diseases such as tuberculosis, trypanosomiasis, toxoplasmosis, taeniasis, rabies, lassa fever and yellow fever, which have hindered the enormous potential embedded in animal husbandry, thus resulting in an adverse decline in the contributions of the red-meat value chain to the economy, including Lagos.
She continued: “State government has brought veterinarians’ services very close to the people by rehabilitating and equipping the veterinary centres at Ikorodu, Ajah, Surulere, Ojo and Badagry.
“Also, the Ministry of Agriculture’s Monitoring, Enforcement and Compliance Unit on the Red Meat Value Chain Team is out to stem the proliferation of unwholesome practices inhibiting the red meat sector such as operation of illegal/unauthorised abattoirs, slaughter slabs and meat shops; transportation of carcasses in unapproved vehicles, unlicensed veterinary premises and incidence of stray animals.”
To curb high impact transboundary animal diseases, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) is ready to work with Lagos and other states to strengthen our bio-security measures to ensure livestock was at optimum health to produce high-quality meat and meat products.
These include high impact regional transboundary animal diseases – Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) and Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI).
Assistant Representative Programme, FAO, Dr Abubakar Suleiman said the organisation is partnering Ondo State was implementing a pilot feedlot cattle fattening system.
Similarly, Chairman, Conference of Directors of Veterinary Services in Southwestern Nigeria, Dr. Taiwo Jolaoso, said Nigeria was one of the largest livestock raising countries and major hub of animal products in West Africa.
He continued: “Livestock contributes to the economy through employment generation; foreign exchange, among others. However, the industry is bedeviled with disease threat, in cattle such as Helminthiasis, contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia, Brucellosis and many other devastating impact animal diseases resulting in loss of billions of Naira annually. Poultry industry is even more devastated by viral infections like Infectious Bronchitis, Newcastle disease, Infectious diseases, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza etc. In fish, gill disease, swim bladder, fungal infections etc. The significance of the Veterinarian in combating these diseases, preventing spread and ameliorating their effects can therefore not be overemphasised. Veterinarians as “front liners” are exposed to a high risk of contracting emerging, re-emerging and zoonotic diseases (Ebola, Leptospirosis, Tuberculosis, Brucellosis, and Anthrax to mention but a few).
This justifies the need for payment of Hazard allowance to compensate for harms, risks and burdens associated with working as health personnel.
“Unfortunately, our services are undervalued and we are underpaid and the supposed hazard allowance veterinarians receive is at best a farce. A first-order priority for policy makers should be keeping front-line health workers and veterinarians safe on the job and payment of generous hazard allowance to compensate these officers and their families for the essential services they provide for public good.”
He urged the government to employ more veterinary officers to enhance professionalism and curb quackery.
He identified unavailability of authentic service and failure of veterinarians to provide last-mile services compounded by a lax regulatory environment, as the reasons for non-professionals in veterinary practice.
