In a move aimed at enhancing food security and agricultural sustainability in Nigeria, the Danida Fellowship Alumni, in collaboration with the Royal Danish Embassy, recently organized a training workshop focused on sustainable feed management and livestock production. The event brought together farmers, agricultural stakeholders, and experts to equip participants with vital knowledge on optimizing livestock production while reducing environmental impact.
The Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria, Dr. Columba Vakuru, in his opening remarks, emphasized the importance of the workshop’s theme, Sustainable Feed Management and Livestock Production in Nigeria. According to Dr. Vakuru, the increasing demand for food, particularly animal-based products, highlights the urgent need for efficient feed management to support the nation’s growing population. He underscored that sustainable feed practices are critical to ensuring food security, environmental stewardship, and the long-term viability of Nigeria's agricultural sector.
Dr. Vakuru, represented by Dr. George Uzoaga Onyemauwa, outlined that sustainable feed management involves optimizing resources such as water, land, and nutrients to produce animal feed. This approach includes using cover crops to maintain soil health and adopting non-traditional feed ingredients like agricultural by-products, food waste, and insect protein. These alternatives help reduce reliance on conventional grains, lower costs, and lessen the environmental footprint of livestock farming.
As we all know, balancing the nutrient content in animal feed to match the specific needs of different livestock species cannot be overemphasized, Vakuru noted. He stressed that improving feed efficiency not only reduces waste but also lowers production costs and environmental impact. Vakuru further explained that feed costs constitute a significant portion of livestock production expenses—ranging from 50% to 70% depending on the livestock type—with poultry and pig farming seeing costs as high as 80%.
This underscores the need for sourcing high-quality and affordable feed ingredients, as well as employing proper processing and storage methods to prevent contamination from harmful toxins like insecticides, herbicides, and aflatoxins. Poor feed quality can have devastating effects on livestock health and production.
In her welcome remarks, Sidikat Jumoke, one of the National Coordinators of the Danida Fellowship Alumni, reiterated the importance of sustainable feed management for optimizing livestock production. She linked sustainable agriculture to the achievement of several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). Jumoke emphasized that agriculture is the cornerstone of Nigeria’s economy, and implementing sustainable practices is crucial for improving food security, livestock health, and overall productivity.
She urged participants to take home practical lessons from the workshop to enhance agricultural productivity while minimizing the environmental impact and improving livelihoods.
Mrs. Ezeudegbunam Eucharia, another National Coordinator of the Danida Fellowship Alumni, highlighted the workshop’s focus on four key areas: antimicrobial resistance, livestock production and best practices, climate change, and feed and fodder management. She noted that the primary goal of the workshop was to empower farmers with knowledge to enhance food production, reduce hunger, and alleviate poverty.
Mrs. Eucharia encouraged participants to maximize the training’s benefits and share the knowledge with other farmers who were unable to attend.
The workshop attracted a diverse group of participants, including representatives from Nasarawa State University, Keffi, the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL), the Ministry of Finance, the All Farmers Associations of Nigeria, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, and the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). The event was also attended by Rasak Yakeem, who represented Mrs. Winnie Lai Solarin, Director of Animal Husbandry Services and the Country Focal Person for the Danida Fellowship Alumni.
This collaborative effort marks an important step in promoting sustainable livestock production in Nigeria. With the knowledge gained from this workshop, farmers and stakeholders are now better equipped to tackle challenges, improve feed management, and contribute to a more food-secure future for the country.