By Felicia Imohimi
The National Sheep and Goat Development Association of Nigeria (NASHGODAN) has urged the Federal Government to establish demonstration farms across the six geopolitical zones.
The association said the initiative would boost sheep and goat production, increase farmers’ incomes and promote healthy practices.
It added that the farms would help reduce the burden of Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), sheep and goat pox, as well as other transboundary and zoonotic diseases.
The National President of NASHGODAN, Abdullateef Ahmed, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
Ahmed said the centres would serve as learning hubs for testing and showcasing modern, efficient and sustainable animal-rearing techniques to farmers, students and investors.
He said the farms would facilitate knowledge transfer through hands-on training in improved breeding, animal health and feeding practices.
“The centres will boost production by showcasing methods to increase output to farmers and demonstrate profitable agribusiness models to reduce poverty and improve food security.
“They will also serve as training centres to empower youth and women farmers, as well as provide routine vaccination and treatment of sick animals when necessary,” he said.
Ahmed identified disease outbreaks, inadequate breeding programmes, poor market access, limited financing, insecurity and weak value-chain development as major challenges confronting the sector.
He, however, identified farmers and livestock producers as key partners in safeguarding the country against PPR and other zoonotic diseases.
Ahmed said incorporating farmers into government programmes and policies would help address the challenge.
“It will ensure the slaughtering of healthy animals for sale and consumption rather than diseased animals, to the detriment of human health.
“If demonstration farms are established, farmers can take their sick animals to the centres for treatment, and this will be of immense value to farmers and consumers,” he said.
Speaking on the contribution of sheep and goats to the economy, Ahmed said their value chain offered enormous economic opportunities that remained largely untapped.
He said this was in spite of the sector’s contribution to food security and rural livelihoods.
Ahmed urged youths to embrace sheep and goat farming, not merely as a traditional occupation but as a modern agribusiness.
The NASHGODAN president said the sector could generate wealth, create jobs, reduce poverty and contribute to national development.
“The industry is one of the most accessible and profitable agricultural enterprises for rural households, women, youths and retirees.
“It provides income, employment, nutrition and economic resilience for millions of Nigerians,” he said.
(NAN) www.nannews.ng
FUA/TAK
Edited by Tosin Kolade