The Federal Government has unveiled the National Livestock Master Plan (N-LMP) to address challenges in the sector and attract investments from government, development partners and the private sector.
The plan was developed by the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES), in collaboration with the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Nairobi, Kenya, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
It was presented to the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, by the National Project Coordinator of L-PRES, Sanusi Abubakar on Thursday, in Abuja.
Maiha outlined the plan as a strategic roadmap to transform the livestock sector, which contributes about 17% to agricultural Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and five percent to national GDP.
He said millions of Nigerians depend on livestock for their livelihoods, while the sector also plays a vital role in meeting the nation’s protein needs. “However, challenges such as low productivity, disease outbreaks, inadequate infrastructure and limited access to markets have long hampered growth”, he noted.
“The N-LMP is a comprehensive five-year investment plan designed to address these challenges and guide the development of a sustainable livestock sector”, he said.
The Minister explained that the plan would prioritise key commodities and value chains, identify potential technology and policy interventions, and include foresight investment analysis to show returns on combined livestock investments.
According to him, the initiative aims to increase the sector’s contribution to poverty alleviation, job creation, economic growth, food security and nutrition, while also promoting gender inclusion, youth employment, equity and environmental sustainability.
“The N-LMP will enable Nigeria to implement the Livestock Development Strategy for Africa (LiDeSA) and contribute to the Malabo Declaration as well as the Sustainable Development Goals, (SDGs). It is a commitment to a future where Nigeria’s livestock sector is not just sustainable, but thriving, innovative and a major driver of national prosperity”, he added.
He urged stakeholders to embrace the plan with enthusiasm, attract the necessary investments and build a resilient and equitable livestock sector for the country.
