Reviving Nigeria’s livestock sector: The Botswana model

Published 04 Nov,2020 via The Nation - There has been concern about the state of the livestock industry, valued at N13 trillion. Analysts still see it as one of the most inefficient food-production system in Africa with less focus on new technologies and other factors that can drive the transformation of the sub-sector. They said it was time to revitalise the sector, to handle emerging challenges. Botswana’s success story is what they suggested Nigeria should adopt in terms of product quality, safety, and sustainability, DANIEL ESSIET reports.

Nigeria is a major producer of livestock in sub-Saharan Africa. Its cattle population is estimated at 20 million. However, according to analysts, the nation is the largest importer of milk in the region, with an annual bill of $1.3 billion.

While the nation has a larger number of livestock, the Managing Director, Chanan Elo’a Integrated and dairy expert, Mr Udeme Etuk, said there were no large meat processing plants. When compared to Botswana livestock sector with a small number of cattle production which allows its farmers to export their meat, Etuk said the country was still far away from its aspiration.

He said Nigeria has the potential to feed itself and also meet the demands of big markets abroad if there was enough support for farmers to seriously take up small stock production

Analysts said Botswana has an over $5 billion livestock industry, with all its international markets and their strict veterinary requirements. According to the data from the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), Botswana’s herd is put at 2.1 million.

Over the past five years, livestock contribution to its economy amounted to $2.9 million according to data from the Trade Map.

Etuk was not ashamed to recommend that Nigeria must adopt Botswana’s formula to grow the local industry.

According to him, one of Botswana’s greatest assets is rangelands. He said there are various facilities to help farmers export livestock. For instance, he said the ranches have feedlots and abattoirs.

He said: “Botswana has a very advanced livestock industry. They converted the Kalahari Desert to a conducive place to breed cattle. They have also domesticated buffalos for the production of beef and milk.”

He added: “The government has banned the importation of dairy products completely and subsidised the production of fodder and other related products needed by the livestock industry. They are presently Africa’s major exporter of beef to Europe.”

Matched with Botswana’s industry, Etuk said the nation’s beef processing sector is facing challenges. He said small livestock producers found it difficult locating a meat processor nearby or with available capacity when their animals are ready for slaughter.

The other issue is lack of enough grants to small plants to expand their facilities. He called for more investments in rangeland livestock farming.

He believes reviving the local livestock industry can put Nigeria on a growth trajectory. This is because the industry has the capacity to provide livelihood to many Nigerians.

He sees real potential in the neglected sector.

One stakeholder seeking to replicate Botswana’s success story in Nigeria is Prof. Eustace Iyayi, executive secretary, Nigerian Institute of Animal Science (NIAS).

He believes the nation’s N13 trillion livestock industry could be galvanised into a major revenue-generating avenue with the application of technology and innovations.

For him, ranches remain the basis of livestock industry and production. Without ranches, his concern was that the industry would not have healthy cows to support livestock production.

Iyayi canvassed the establishment of regenerative rangeland practices, as well as fodder production. He believes knowledge of rangeland management and proven best practices that improve livestock production and profitability are lacking.

Ekiti Agriculture Commissioner, Dr Adetoyi Olabode, is a proponent of Botswana’s livestock farming model.

One goal of Olabode is how to support farmers to learn and adopt new livestock farming practices. To him, increased land-based productivity and profitability will help to drive Ekiti’s economic revival.

To achieve this, he is transforming the mind-set of farmers towards adopting sustainable rangeland principles, which will create resilience among farmers to climate change and ensure sustainable livestock production.

The effort will be complemented by fodder production and adopting new innovations such as hydroponics. Besides, he appealed to stakeholders to assist farmers to make changes towards becoming a more productive and profitable livestock sector.

He expects the livestock sector to play a key role in the revitalisation of the economy; however, this depends on farmers changing their practices.

To safeguard livestock production among vulnerable pastoralists in the Northeast , the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has supported the establishment of Community-based Animal Health Workers (CBAHWs) in Borno State. The initiative aims to build capacity of 150 youths who will provide veterinary support to pastoralists in their respective communities. The youths will also be equipped with the necessary veterinary tool kits.

To boost livestock farming also, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has unveiled a university-based revival programme for the poultry sector by releasing N36 billion to poultry farmers.

According to CBN Deputy Governor, Economic Policy, Dr Okwu Nnanna, who represented the CBN Governor at a meeting, the objective of the programme is to produce chickens and eggs to reduce the importation as well as close the existing demand and supply gaps in the country.

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