The Minister of Livestock Development, Alh. Idi Mukhtar Maiha, has pledged the federal government’s commitment to addressing security in livestock settlements by collaborating with security agencies across the nation.
This assurance came during a courtesy visit by the Northeast Commercial Dairies and Producers Association in Abuja, who congratulated the minister on his appointment and presented key concerns impacting the sector.
Maiha noted that the government would ensure the security in livestock settlement while advising farmers to leverage on innovative solutions such as animal tagging and tracking for ease of identification.
“We need to be innovative in addressing these challenges. Farmers must also take steps to create databases of their farms for better resource allocation and effective communication with the Ministry,”.
Maiha further reiterated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’’s priority on food security and economic growth, noting that the establishment of the Ministry of Livestock Development underscores this commitment.
Earlier in his address, the association’s spokesperson, Dr. Adamu, Resident Veterinary Doctor at Gwagwalada, highlighted pressing issues such as insecurity, poor infrastructure, and land conversion, which have hindered the sector’s progress.
He noted that insecurity in the nation has caused many dairy farms to shut down, while others with the passion to establish new farms are hesitant due to safety concerns.
Dr. Adamu also drew attention to the scarcity of vaccines, challenges with importation regulations, and the absence of modern veterinary laboratories.
He urged the ministry to address these issues while suggesting measures such as empowering agro-rangers, installing solar-powered lighting for farm security, and implementing tracking systems to deter cattle rustling.