Sheep and Goat Transformation Agenda

Federal government, through the Ministry of Agriculture, has mapped out strategies to tackle challenges in goat and sheep farming in the country with a view to shifting the paradigm from the low input/low output subsistence system to commercial and intensive production by 2015.

This was revealed, last week, at the ‘sheep and goat value chain growth enhancement support scheme sensitization workshop,’ organised by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) at OYSADEP conference hall, moor plantation Ibadan.

Speaking at the event, Assistant Director, Federal Livestock Department and Desk Officer, sheep and goat value chain Mr John Taiwo, who noted that although sheep and goat contributed 32% meat compared to 22% cattle, and provided skins which earned foreign exchange, intensification and commercialisation of the sheep and goats had not been given required attention.

He highlighted the major challenges to include diseases, such as Peste des Petit Ruminant (PPR Kata), parasites, dry season feeding, and poor management.

Other challenges include the low genetic predisposition of the Nigerian sheep /goat breeds; the slaughter of large number of pregnant female large ruminants; lack of modern marketing system which leaves producers at the mercy of middlemen that exploit them for their own benefits, among many other challenges.

The livestock department, therefore, according to Mr Taiwo, was introducing compounded commercial feed to support the improvement in productivity and production of sheep/goats in order to make it a worthwhile business for the farmers and close protein deficiency gap in the country.

The Sheep and Goat desk officer, who disclosed that the Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GES) revolved around animal health care and feed, said the focus was on the small holder farmers who were already in the business.

South-West Regional Director of FMARD, who was represented by Dr Adesegun Oyekoya, said the agric transformation agenda was to increase meat output from the current 440,109 to 585,785 metric tonnes; improve population of sheep and goats by 30 per cent, from 92,043,900 to 119,657,070; generate over 450,000 new jobs, among others.

Also, Oyo State Director of FMARD, Mr Adebayo Lasisi, said that the ministry was set to upgrade capacity along the value chain and provide enabling environment for effective linkage of all stakeholders, adding that technical assistance would be provided where necessary to ensure improved supply of wholesome meat, food security, job and wealth creation.

De Edge Farms