By Felicia Imohimi
The Federal Government, German International Cooperation (GIZ), and African Group of Negotiators Experts Support (AGNES) say they are committed to enhancing climate adaptation financing and sustainable livestock development.
They gave the commitment during a breakfast meeting in Abuja.
Alhaji Idi Maiha, Minister of Livestock Development, said there was need for collaboration and integration of resources into environmental stewardship with economic viability, food security and social equity.
Alhaji Idi Maiha, Minister, Livestock Development
The meeting organised by AGNES and GIZ, among other stakeholders was tagged “Strengthening Capacities to Access Climate Adaption Finance for Climate-Resilient Livestock Production Systems in Nigeria”.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports its objective was to provide space for engagement with the private sector on the opportunities and barriers limiting investments in Nigeria’s livestock systems.
Maiha identified the event as crucial in the financing options for a resilient and sustainable livestock system in the country.
He further said that it would integrate environmental stewardship with economic viability, social equity for development, economic growth and food security.
“It is a paradigm shift that will require a wide range of collaboration and resources for system change, thus making this intervention by BMZ both timely and necessary,” he said.
Maiha said that the meeting aligned with the ministry’s plan of strategic partnerships to transform Nigeria’s livestock industry into a globally competitive one.
According to him, this will be done by unlocking the sector’s vast potential for job creation, economic diversification, and the resolution of long-standing conflicts between farmers and herders.
Maiha said the ministry had developed the Nigeria Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy (NL-GAS) and the Nigeria Livestock Master plan.
“Animal welfare and traceability are becoming a requirement for trade because livestock have been severally implicated in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
“The carbon footprint of livestock products and responsible production systems are also being tracked,” he said.
Dr George Wamukoya, Team Leader, AGNES, said the role of the organisation was to provide effective framework for stakeholders to engage in finding lasting solutions to challenges in the country’s livestock sector.
Wamukoya, who identified collaboration as key to grow and harness the potential of livestock sector, assured of the group’s further engagement towards the realisation of the targets.
Dr Francis Toromade, Director-General, Feed Industries Practitioners Association of Nigeria (FIPAN), said the organisation’s mandate was ensuring adequate materials, ingredients, feed and fodder among others for the sector.
Represented by Mr Franklin Oloniyoyo, a member of the association, Toromade said the association was interested in ensuring all-year round feed and fodder availability. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Uche Anunne
