The Federal Government has been asked to urgently review all agricultural policies in the country in order to salvage the nation from imminent famine.
A Professor of Animal Nutrition, Adeyemi Bamgbose made the call on Wednesday while delivering the 65th Inaugural Lecture of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Ogun State,
The university don stressed the need for critical evaluation, assessment, impact and output of different agricultural policies aimed at overall improvement and sustainability of agriculture in Nigeria.
He argued that this would ensure food security for the Nigerian populace.
Bamgbose's call is coming at a time when Nigerians are lamenting rising cost of living as the country’s inflation hits a 4-year high by more than 18 percent in March.
This has also led to food prices going up by almost 23 percent.
Bamgbose was speaking on the topic, “Feeds and Feedstuffs: Panacea for Declining Commercial Animal Agriculture and Food Insecurity in Nigeria", held at Oluwafemi Balogun ceremonial building.
According to him, the task ahead of Nigeria’s livestock sub-section is multifarious and challenging and success will only be achieved through re-orientation, commitment, dedication, sacrifice, honesty, accountability, adequate funding, motivation and cooperation of all Nigerians in particular and the international community in general.
The Don, who is of the Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Livestock Production (COLANIM), said there was need to harness the available unconventional/alternative feed resources localised in different eco-systems and regions in Nigeria for utilisation in the efficient and sufficient nutrition of farm animals for improved productive and economic performance.
The Professor of Animal Nutrition added that the necessity to improve the current animal production systems in Nigeria cannot be disputed, stressing that there is great need for more food in the country, particularly more animal products.
He said the utilisation of some important unconventional feedstuffs through improved feeding regimes and the management practices could be used to improve the productivity of monogastric animals which would stimulate human productivity, engender development and increase gross domestic products (GDP), thus accentuating economic recovery and food security.
"By doing so, Nigeria will join the league of advanced countries in the world in no distant future" he said.
Prof. Bamgbose called for re-introduction and commercialisation of branded FUNAAB feeds to guarantee availability of quality feeds to livestock farmers, adding that commercialisation of poultry are rabbit production is an avenue to increase the Internal Generated Revenue (IGR) of the University and ensure farm fresh animal products like meat, eggs and so on for the university community and the nation at large.
He also called for the establishment of an agricultural village on the University farm under the management of Directorate of University Farms (DUFARMS), to be involved in agric-business ventures and enterprises.
He stressed that it can be involved in training, workshop, entrepreneurship, production, processing, preservation, packaging, youth/women empowerment and marketing.
Earlier in his Introductory Remark,the Vice Chancellor,Prof.Kolawole Salako described the Inaugural Lecturer as an accomplished erudite scholar who has impacted positively especially in the areas of academic and moral excellence.
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