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By Victor Babatope
Agricultureh been described as the mainstay of Nigeria’s economy before the discovery of oil and gas, and still an essential source of livelihood for large part of Nigeria population, employing nearly three quarters of the adult workforce.
This assertion was made by Professor David Friday Apata, the Lecturer at the Kwara State University seventh Inaugural Lecture titled ” feed is good, toxicants the bane”.
Professor Apata in his lecture affirmed that agriculture remains the vital sector for investment in Nigeria to diversify the economy from the soil sector.
According to the inaugural Lecturer, an integral part of agriculture is the livestock sector which he described as very important to the socio-economic development of the country.
He explained that farm animals turn feed into high quality animal protein such as meat, milk and eggs which are essential for normal development and good health by also providing income to farmers through sales of animals and their products which includes raw materials for agro-industrial development and offering employment opportunities along with numerous animal production and processing value chains.
Professor Apata said livestock contribution to the GDP over the years is less than its potential, claiming that the sector contributes one point six percent and seven point five percent to national GDP and agricultural GDP respectively.
In his conclusion, the Lecturer called on Government to create a conducive environment for more youths, graduates and rural women to take various livestock farming opportunities, particularly poultry, rabbit,fish and other aspect of livestock production affirming that it would not only create jobs, provide income, alleviate poverty and reduce restiveness but it would also enhance the production of animal protein which is currently in short supply for the nation teaming population.
He called for increased private sector participation in the livestock feed industry to produce and market quality animal feeds.
