Work has been completed on the recently launched National Livestock Transformation Initiative (NLTP) to stave herders-farmers clashes that has
claimed more than 3200 lives in two years.
The initiative, which was launched by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, has been subjected to a test by stakeholders at the two-day Multi-Stakeholders’ Forum in Abuja for a comprehensive breeding policy and regulate and coordinate livestock production.
The event, which ended on Thursday was facilitated by the Department of Animal Husbandry Services of Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
It was put up on “Validation of Draft National Animal Breeding Policy Document and Preparation of National Strategy and Action Plan (NSAP) for Animal Genetic Resources’’.
The stakeholders’ outcome that would be forwarded to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for approval would help with characterization and conservation of indigenous animal genetics.
Work on the policy would be concluded before the end of the year, Dr. Popoola Mustapha, Head, Secretariat of Animal Genetics Resources, National Advisory Committee, said.
“For the breeding policy, it has been validated and the strategy of action plan is undergoing a second review. We have one review left before validating and the moment that is done the ministry can take it before the Federal Executive Council,’’ he said.
He said that Nigeria was formulating a framework for livestock breeding across the country, especially halting indiscriminate breeding and genetic pollution and dilution.
“There is a lot of nomadic dilution. So, as at today we do not even know the whole breed of animals and it is affecting the business, the industry, research and productivity.
“That is why when you look at our animals 10 or 15 years ago, the sizes of goat then were different from what we have today.
“A lot of hybrid figure is being lost and not to talk about when we started importing the semen of different genetics from other countries to Nigeria,” he said.
MM/GIK/APA