According to the African Union-Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR), Nigeria’s feed and fodder resources offer an unrealised agribusiness opportunity worth more than $1 billion annually.
Dr. Laban MacOpiyo, an animal production and natural resource management expert at AU-IBAR, stated that Nigeria can generate significant economic value by mobilising and selling underutilised biomass.
He made these remarks during the High-Level Feed and Fodder Inventory and Investment Forum in Abuja.
He said this would entail developing rural feed markets and pelleting enterprises, educating producers on conservation methods, and encouraging interstate trade and private-sector aggregation.
According to MacOpiyo, Nigeria has a 10% shortage of feed and fodder. However, he stressed that the primary challenge lies in distribution, with feed not readily accessible in regions where livestock are heavily concentrated.
He stated that solving this issue through targeted infrastructure and policy could drastically reduce farmer-herder conflicts by limiting the need for cattle migration in search of fodder.
As part of its support to Nigeria, AU-IBAR officially handed over the National Feed Inventory Database and Dashboard to the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development.
The digital platform offers real-time data on feed availability, pricing, quality, and distribution patterns across the country.
Describing the initiative as a “game-changer,” the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, praised the effort for equipping the sector with tools to ensure feed security and drive private investment.
“These efforts have culminated in a scientifically validated Feed Inventory and Fodder Balance Report that provides a clear picture of our feed resources, gaps, and opportunities,” he said.
With the new digital dashboard, the Ministry plans to strengthen institutional capacity, promote private sector participation, and mainstream feed data at all planning and implementation levels.
“Together, we can create a vibrant feed and fodder industry that not only supports national food security but also positions Nigeria as a livestock powerhouse in Africa,” the Minister added.
The director of AU-IBAR, Dr. Huyam Ahmed Salih, emphasised the importance of evidence-based policy, revealing that only nine out of 47 African countries have completed feed and fodder assessments.
She commended Nigeria for its leadership and for integrating feed data into national systems, noting that over $248 million in investment has already been mobilised in the sector.
Also speaking, Dr. Sarah Ashanut Ossiya, Project Coordinator of the Resilient African Feed and Fodder Systems (RAFFS), linked animal malnutrition to broader economic losses.
“Stunted children today mean a stunted economy tomorrow. Africa’s GDP is estimated to shrink by 10% due to malnutrition alone,” she stated.
Mrs. Winnie Lai-Solarin, Director of Ruminants and Monogastrics Development at the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, called for establishing strategic feed reserves and hybrid pasture seed systems.
She revealed that Nigeria already has surplus feed in some regions and has received export demands from countries like Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
The feed inventory process included several technical seminars and field validations, including cooperation with the National Bureau of Statistics. AU-IBAR headed the process in coordination with national stakeholders.
The completed data, however, provides essential information on feed availability, points out supply shortages, and identifies areas for investment to create a robust and sustainable livestock industry.
Through the RAFFS project (2022–2025), AU-IBAR is helping African nations enhance their data systems, deal with feed shortages, and fortify their resilience to global shocks like conflict, COVID-19, and climate change.
The forum, which was attended by representatives from Kenya, Uganda, Cameroon, Somalia, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, and ECOWAS, as well as research organisations and private sector partners, demonstrated Nigeria’s willingness to spearhead the continent’s feed sector transformation.
Source: AgroNigeria
Image Credit: LinkedIn
