FG, US Livestock Firms Deepen Partnership to Modernise Nigeria’s Livestock Industry
FG, US Livestock Firms Deepen Partnership to Modernise Nigeria’s Livestock Industry
FG, US Livestock Firms Deepen Partnership to Modernise Nigeria’s Livestock Industry
The Federal Government has expressed its readiness to strengthen 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), during a high-level engagement with directors of the Ministry and other stakeholders.
Maiha said the meeting provided an important platform for identifying areas of mutual interest and developing practical partnerships capable of accelerating sustainable growth across Nigeria’s livestock value chains.
He noted that there was significant 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.
The Minister urged both sides to move beyond broad discussions and establish 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,” Maiha said.
He stressed the importance of maintaining regular engagement to ensure that contacts and discussions translate into sustainable partnerships and tangible results.
According to the Minister, the Federal Government is also working to strengthen and reorganise livestock facilities and production systems nationwide as part of efforts to create a more coordinated, efficient and productive industry.
He said Nigeria’s large population and expanding livestock market presented significant opportunities for investors, adding that government and the private sector must work together to identify practical solutions to existing challenges and unlock the sector’s vast potential.
US Commits Support to Nigeria’s Livestock Sector
Earlier, Bielecki said the delegation’s visit was aimed at introducing leading American livestock companies and industry associations to Nigeria’s livestock sector while exploring mutually beneficial investment and technical partnerships.
He disclosed that the US Government was supporting Nigeria’s livestock sector through the Food for Progress programme, with an investment of approximately $25 million over five years, targeting the poultry, aquaculture and animal-feed value chains.
Bielecki said the participation of American private-sector companies reflected growing interest in Nigeria’s livestock industry and the opportunities available across its various value chains.
He emphasised that the partnership should extend beyond commercial interests to include support for smallholder farmers through technology transfer, training, capacity development and improved production practices.
Advanced Genetics and Technology
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 explained that advanced genetic technologies could help Nigerian farmers improve herd quality, increase the number of 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 such as body temperature and movement patterns, which could help farmers identify reproductive cycles and improve herd management.
He expressed interest in expanding the companies’ operations in Nigeria, while stressing the need to develop local technical capacity, particularly in artificial insemination.
According to him, the successful expansion of modern breeding technologies would require a large pool of well-trained artificial insemination technicians across the country.
Focus on Dairy, Feed and Local Production
The meeting also explored opportunities to expand Nigeria’s dairy industry through improved genetics and feed technologies capable of increasing milk production and helping informal dairy producers transition into organised and formal value chains.
Representing ADM (Archer Daniels Midland), General Manager Mrs. Ifunayan Aginam said the company had operated in Nigeria for about four years, supporting the livestock industry through feed additives, mineral and vitamin premixes, technical assistance, feed formulation and training.
She disclosed that ADM operates a laboratory in Nigeria that analyses raw materials for farmers and feed millers, helping to improve feed quality and formulation.
Aginam, however, identified shortages of essential raw materials as a major challenge for the feed industry, noting that several vitamins and minerals remain heavily dependent on imports.
She appealed to the Ministry to address challenges surrounding the issuance of End-User Certificates for the importation of critical feed ingredients, including dicalcium phosphate, which she said is essential for proper animal growth and development.
Representatives of the U.S. Grains and Crop Council and other American livestock organisations also expressed interest in Nigeria’s poultry, aquaculture, dairy and beef sectors.
The Council highlighted opportunities to promote the use of US corn, sorghum, barley, ethanol and corn co-products in livestock feed while supporting the development of more efficient and sustainable feed systems.
FG Pushes Nigerian Content and Research
The technical discussions also focused on increasing Nigerian participation in proposed investments, including the local sourcing of raw materials and stronger partnerships with Nigerian universities, research institutes and other relevant institutions.
Ministry officials emphasised the need to reduce excessive dependence on imported inputs by promoting research and development around locally available raw materials and technologies.
Participants agreed on the need for sustained collaboration among government, private-sector investors, research institutions and development partners in areas including livestock genetics, breeding, genomics, animal health, diagnostics, feed and nutrition, research, trade finance, local content and investment.
Maiha reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to working with credible Nigerian and international partners to accelerate the transformation of the livestock industry.
He said the goal is to build a modern and commercially viable livestock sector capable of improving farmers’ livelihoods, creating jobs, strengthening food security and contributing significantly to Nigeria’s economic growth.
FG, US Livestock Firms Deepen Partnership to Modernise Nigeria’s Livestock Industry
