The Federal Government has expressed readiness to deepen collaboration with the United States private sector in livestock genetics, animal nutrition, technology and productivity as part of efforts to transform Nigeria’s livestock industry into a modern, productive and commercially viable sector.
The Minister of Livestock Development, Hon. Idi Mukhtar Maiha, stated this in Abuja when he received a delegation of American livestock companies and associations led by Mr Christopher Bielecki, representing the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
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The meeting, which was attended by Directors of the Ministry and other stakeholders, provided an opportunity to identify areas of mutual interest and explore practical partnerships for the sustainable development of Nigeria’s livestock sector.
Maiha said there was considerable alignment between the Ministry’s priorities and the expertise offered by the visiting American companies, particularly in livestock genetics, feed and nutrition, poultry, dairy, ruminants and pig production.
He urged both sides to move beyond broad discussions and develop concrete areas of cooperation with clearly defined responsibilities, communication channels and measurable outcomes.
“Seeing you here today is the first level of getting to benefit from each other. We need to stay close together,” the Minister said.
He stressed the importance of regular engagement to ensure that contacts established during the meeting translate into sustainable partnerships.
The Minister further disclosed that the Federal Government was strengthening and reorganising livestock facilities and production systems across the country to establish a more coordinated, efficient and productive industry.
He noted that Nigeria’s large population and expanding livestock market presented significant investment opportunities, urging government and investors to identify their respective roles in addressing existing challenges and unlocking the sector’s potential.
Earlier, Mr Bielecki said the delegation was in Nigeria to introduce leading American private-sector companies and livestock associations to the country’s livestock sector and explore mutually beneficial partnerships.
He disclosed that the U.S. Government was supporting Nigeria’s livestock sector through the Food for Progress programme, with an investment of approximately $25 million over five years, focusing on poultry, aquaculture and animal feed value chains.
Bielecki said the participation of American companies demonstrated growing interest in Nigeria’s livestock industry and the investment opportunities it offers.
He stressed that the partnership should extend beyond commercial interests to support smallholder farmers and livestock producers through technology transfer, training, partnerships and capacity development.
A representative of STgenetics and Fast Genetics, Mr Gregg BeVier, highlighted the companies’ expertise in livestock genetics, precision farming technologies, sex-sorted semen and genetic testing.
He said advanced genetic technologies could help Nigerian farmers improve herd genetics, increase productive female animals and make better-informed breeding decisions.
BeVier also highlighted an artificial intelligence-based technology capable of monitoring animals and providing real-time information, including body temperature and movement patterns, to help farmers identify reproductive cycles and improve herd management.
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He expressed the companies’ interest in expanding their operations in Nigeria but stressed the need to build local technical capacity, particularly in artificial insemination.
According to him, the expansion of modern breeding technologies would require a significant number of well-trained artificial insemination technicians across the country.
BeVier also called for stronger collaboration among government, private companies, research institutions and development partners to ensure that livestock data and interventions are properly captured, evaluated and replicated.
The meeting further explored opportunities in dairy development, particularly the use of improved genetics and feed technologies to increase milk production and transition informal dairy producers into organised value chains.
Representing ADM (Archer Daniels Midland), the General Manager, Mrs Ifunayan Aginam, said the company had operated in Nigeria for about four years and supported the livestock industry through feed additives, mineral and vitamin premixes, technical assistance, feed formulation and training.
She disclosed that ADM also operates a laboratory in Nigeria for analysing raw materials used by farmers and feed millers, thereby supporting improved feed quality and formulation.
Aginam, however, identified shortages of essential raw materials as a major challenge facing Nigeria’s feed industry, noting that some vitamins and minerals required for feed production were still imported.
She appealed to the Ministry to support efforts to address difficulties associated with obtaining End-User Certificates for importing essential feed ingredients, including dicalcium phosphate.
The meeting also featured representatives of the U.S. Grains and Crop Council and other American livestock-sector organisations, who expressed interest in Nigeria’s poultry, aquaculture, dairy and beef industries.
The U.S. Grains and Crop Council representative said the organisation promotes the use of U.S. corn, sorghum, barley, ethanol and corn co-products in livestock feed and expressed interest in supporting efficient and sustainable feed systems in Nigeria.
During the technical session, Directors from various departments of the Ministry sought clarification on the level of Nigerian content envisaged in the proposed investments, particularly opportunities for sourcing raw materials locally.
The Directors encouraged prospective investors to establish stronger partnerships with Nigerian universities, research institutes and other relevant institutions to promote research and development around locally available raw materials and technologies.
The Ministry also stressed the need to reduce excessive dependence on imported inputs by encouraging research collaborations aimed at identifying, developing and commercialising locally available alternatives.
Participants agreed on the need for sustained engagement in areas including livestock genetics, breeding, genomics, animal health, diagnostics, feed and nutrition, research and development, trade finance, local content and private-sector investment.
The Minister reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to working with credible international and Nigerian private-sector partners to accelerate the transformation of the livestock industry.
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He said the initiative would help improve farmers’ livelihoods, create jobs, strengthen food security and contribute significantly to Nigeria’s economic development.