As the population of Nigeria continues to improve, participants at a one-day workshop have identified tax reduction, livestock census, capacity building, and adequate security as panaceas to improve livestock development in the country.
They took the position at a conference organized by the Oyo state Agricultural Development Agency, OYSADA with the theme: Developing Evidence-based plans, policies and investment options in the livestock sector held at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, IITA, Ibadan.
The participants decried a situation whereby the country imported livestock from neighbouring states to feed its people called for commercial livestock production.
A lecturer at the Department of Animal Science, University of Ibadan, Professor Olugbenga Ogunwole and a general manager of a diary-producing company, Adekunle Olayiwola lamented the totality of various levies charged at different levels of government, saying overtaxing of food items would unnecessarily push up the cost.
Professor Olugbenga and Mr Adekunle also stressed the need for finance and data for proper planning, and good roads and urged the government to bring in extension officers for the improved livestock sector.
Speaking at the forum, Director General Oyo State Agricultural Development Agency, Dr Debo Akande said the programme was put together to design a strategic plan for Oyo state to improve its livestock sector.
Dr Akande hinted that the action and direction of the present government are yielding results as statistics recently released by NASE, indicated that between 2019-2020, the crop production is higher than what has been doing since 2013 while the size of the land the state is cultivating for five crops cumulatively has grown by 40 acres of land.
Earlier, the Deputy Director General, IITA, Dr Ken Dashiell represented by Sore Zaina described the conference as timely in view of population growth, calling on the government to put Infrastructure in place and the right technology for the livestock sector to meet the needs of the people.
The programme which had in attendance academia, livestock farmers, investors, researchers, policymakers, Miyetti Allah association provided an opportunity for stakeholders to rub minds together and fashion out ways for better livestock production.
Iyabo Adebisi
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