The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development has announced plans to collaboratewith the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) on the use of locally fabricated and affordable stover chopper machines that convert crop wasteinto animal feed with up to 90 per cent utilisation efficiency.

The Honourable Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhta Maiha, announced this during a meeting with an ICRISAT delegation at his office in Abuja on Wednesday, 15 October 2025.

Maiha said the partnership would help address key challenges facing Nigeria’s livestock sector by promoting crop-livestock integration, improving access to machinery, and enhancing agricultural extension services. 

He noted that turning crop waste into animal feed represents an opportunity to reduce waste while strengthening food security.

“People can take the grains, the foliage, and the residue; everything can be turned into animal feed,” the Minister said.

He encouraged ICRISAT to begin by leveraging existing crop varieties before expanding into grass and pasture cultivation that can complement crop residue utilisation. 

The Minister also urged the Institute to intensify sensitisation among farmers and other stakeholders using local languages to promote the adoption of residue-based animal feed as a cost-effective and sustainable option.

Reaffirming the Ministry’s commitment to livestock growth, Maiha disclosed that discussions are already ongoing with several state governors to advance livestock development nationwide.

“We are commencing with five grazing reserves across Adamawa, Plateau, the FCT, and other selected states,” he stated.

Dr Ignatius Ijantiku Angarawai, Senior Scientist for Sorghum Breeding and ICRISAT Country Representative for Nigeria, noted that the Institute, in collaboration with Crop Mandate NARES, has developed dual-purpose sorghum and millet varieties to help farmers maximise both grain and fodder yields.

He added that research findings have shown that birds fed with Kaura sorghum gained 8 kilograms more than those fed with maize, establishing sorghum as a viable alternative for poultry feed production.

Dr Angarawai also reaffirmed ICRISAT’s support for the Nigeria Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy (NL-GAS), which aims to promote productivity and sustainability in the livestock sector. This includes,

Developing extension messages for dissemination through the Farmer Field School approach in partnership with national agricultural research systems, and designing a policy framework to strengthen staffing and recruitment processes in livestock institutions.

Source: FMLD