PROTOCOLS

1. THE WELCOME ADDRESS BY THE HON. MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE & RURAL DEVELOPMENT, CHIEF AUDU OGBEH OFR, AT THE 5TH JOINT ANNUAL MEETING (JAM) OF THE NIGERIAN INSTITUTE OF ANIMAL SCIENCE (NIAS) AND ANIMAL SCIENCE ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (ASAN) HELD AT EBITIMI BANIGO AUDITORIUM, UNIVERSITY PARK, UNIVERSITY OF PORT HARCOURT, FROM SEPTEMBER 18TH TO 22ND 2016, IN PORT-HARCOURT, RIVERS STATE.

2. PROTOCOLS I count it a privilege and honour to welcome you to this 5th Joint Annual Meeting (JAM) of the Nigerian Institute of Animal Science (NIAS) and Animal Science Association of Nigeria (ASAN). I would like to applaud the Nigerian Institute of Animal Science and Animal Science Association of Nigeria (ASAN) for choosing a very cardinal theme for this year’s Conference, “Repositioning Animal Agriculture in a Dwindling Oil Economy”.

3. It is inspiring that this meeting has come at a time when the vision of the Government of Nigeria is articulated through the change approach to be applied at all levels of development of the Nation. To achieve this vision, it is expedient that we work with an ample range of National and International Stakeholders to speed up transformation in repositioning our agriculture sector and indeed Livestock production to meet contemporary aspirations of wholesomeness and commercialization for increased farmer and National income as well as wellbeing of the Nation.

4. Ladies and gentlemen this occasion is significant because it marks a major milestone in our drive of making agriculture a top priority to meet the economic needs of the growing Nigerian population. • The human population in Nigeria is currently estimated to be about 160 million and is projected to increase to over 200 million within the next two decades. Rapid increase in human population is inadvertently associated with corresponding increase in demand for food and other agricultural products including those of animal origin. • To meet the increasing gap in the availability of food of animal origin and animal products, there is a need to maximize the production and productivity levels of the livestock resource of the Country.

5. A recent survey by the National Bureau of Statistics estimated the population of various species of livestock as:- cattle (19,200,000), Sheep (39,300,000), goats (63,300,000), pigs (6,700,000) and poultry (153,000,000). • This sub-sector accounts for about 25% of Nigeria’s agricultural GDP and 5.8% of National GDP and is conservatively valued at over 50 trillion Naira. However, there is no census on livestock population which makes it difficult to know the actual number of livestock in the country.

6. Nigeria’s agricultural sector has a high potential for growth, but this potential is not being realized due to the production system which is mainly extensive/transhumance and semi-intensive where animals are allowed to roam in search of feed/pasture. • Such practices do not allow for proper nutrition required for growth and production, as a result, there is under-productivity.

7. Livestock productivity in Nigeria is below the genetic potentials of the national herd because of inadequate and poor quality pasture, poor reproductive management and animal diseases exacerbated by lack of effective support services, such as animal husbandry extension, genetic improvement through artificial insemination (AI) and effective veterinary services. • Improvement in the productivity of livestock will bring about food security, provide quality nutrition especially for children, improve livelihoods and reduce poverty and this will help in achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals 1, 2 and 8.

8. Livestock, movement is predicated on the need for the livestock farmers to have access to feed, water and market for their livestock. • Thus there is movement down to the coastal regions during the dry season and as the rainy season sets in the pastoralists move back upland. • Provision of these amenities in an organized and sustainable manner will reduce the need for this seasonal movement and improve the productivity of the animals.

9. Sustainable development of livestock production is an integral part of any food security or poverty reduction. • Also, traditional pastoral farming systems such as transhumance subsist and contribute to socio-economic development and growth of livestock production. • However the random movement of livestock and transhumance continues to trigger numerous social, legal, environmental, health, economic and political problems.

10. In 2016 alone, there had been several fatal clashes between herders and farmers in Nigeria and there is need to find lasting solutions to this hydra headed problem. • The Livestock sector is facing an exciting future with the reviving and positive policy actions that are pivotal towards accelerating structural reforms to set the sector in the brightest spot on the country’s economic landscape.

11. While there are many challenges ahead, the good news, however, is that we are determined to leverage on the enormous opportunities that lie therein to turn the livestock sector around. • This will be achieved through Government and private investment support for profitable livestock farms to achieve self-sufficiency in food production, ensure food security, reduce import dependence and economic losses, stimulate foreign exchange earnings, conserve indigenous breeds, enhance wealth and job creation, strengthen our institutions and thus make Nigeria depend less on oil

12. The Government is encouraging farmers including livestock farmers to take farming as a business and has come up with a new agriculture promotion policy – the ‘Green Alternative’ which focuses on a government-enabled, private sector-led engagement as the main growth driver of the sector. • The vision of the current administration is to work with key stakeholders to build an agribusiness economy capable of delivering sustained prosperity by meeting domestic food security goals, generating exports and supporting sustainable income growth.

13. This policy statement is anchored on three main pillars which are:- promotion of agricultural investment, financing agricultural development programmes and research for agricultural innovation and productivity. • This also ensures compliance with international commitments, protocols and conventions that

14. Furthermore, in our quest for dairy development, we are partnering with major stakeholders to inject a considerable volume of locally produced raw milk in powdered milk processed in Nigeria through Friesland-Campino and Arla. • Likewise there is an increase in Nigerian grown poultry products now available in major international supermarkets operating in Nigeria like Shoprite, SPAR and others even as smugglers of frozen chicken continue to undermine the efforts of government and that of the Nigerian poultry farmers.

15. I wish to admit that most of the achievements of Government in Agriculture within the last one year were supported by Standards along international benchmarks for food safety. • I commend the Nigerian Institute of Animal Science and the Animal Science Association for supporting Livestock value addition with its Standards and Operating Procedures for the livestock sector.

16. Similarly, I commend NIAS for its advocacy and public enlightenment programs on Radio and Television to promote ranching, commercial pasture production and value addition in Livestock, as against sale and consumption of primary products alone. • Particularly, the issue of curtailing the widespread consumption of hides and skins as PONMON which ought to be tanned into leather for a very high dollar return to the farmer and the Tanneries which generated huge public debate and in the process enlightened more people.

17. I expect the development of more competent regulations acceptable by all stakeholders . This will give credibility to our set standards for food safety and thus boost value addition and international best practice. • For instance, the activities of the Institute in the Feedmill sector are already placing the Feed Industry in Nigeria among global operators within FAO’s Codex Alimentarius for Animal Feed Safety. This has built a lot of consumer confidence for Nigerian animal products.

18. Ladies and gentlemen, in the area of core competence, I commend the Institute for its success so far in upgrading the standards of training for Animal Scientists through its Resource Verification activities, Mandatory Continuous Professional Education (MCPE) and the National Graduate Animal Scientists Examination. • In furtherance of this, the Livestock sub sector in Nigeria is the only sector in Agriculture, where highly skilled professionals such as Animal Scientists, Veterinary Doctors, Agric Economists, and Food Technologists etc are privately hired. This has continued to play an important role in reducing graduate unemployment in the country.

19. Undoubtedly, government will continue to support and cooperate with all stakeholders in the Livestock sector to deliver maximum benefits to Nigerians. • I am quite confident that the satisfactory production levels achieved in the poultry and swine segments will soon stretch to other commodities such as beef, dairy, micro livestock, beekeeping, fodder and animal by products such as leather, bones, hides and skins. • Finally, I congratulate all of you for this induction ceremony for the newly admitted Fellows, licensed Registered Animal Scientists, Associate Animal Scientists and Graduate Animal Scientists. I wish you very useful deliberations during your meetings and safe trips as you journey back home.

20. THANK YOU.