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| Prof Gefu |
Livestock production contributes about 44 per cent to
Countries Gross Domestic Products (GDP) in West Africa Countries.
This was disclosed by a Livestock System Research Specialist and an expert in agro-pastoral production system from the National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI), Shika, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Professor Jerome Gefu.
Professor Gefu while speaking as the keynote speaker at the 3rd Annual in-House Research Review and Exhibition in Abeokuta stressed the potentials in livestock production.The exhibition had the theme; Climate change, Fulani pastoralists production system and Food Security in Nigeria.
He cautioned that a food-secured country is one which has the ability to feed itself over a long period of time without having to source for food aids from anywhere, adding that in the West African sub-region for instance, livestock contributes about 44 % to Countries GDP’s with Mali contributing greatly in the sub-region amidst effect of climate warming.
“More than 1 billion of the global extremely poor people reside in the rural areas and engaged fully in or partially in livestock pastoralism for their livelihood. And for such people, livestock contributes largely to their livelihood. Also, improvement in the control of tsetse-fly has contributed greatly as many of these areas have been virtually cleared of its excesses”.
He added that categories of pastoralists like the Bokolojis, Fulanis, Shuwa Arabs and the indigenous pastoralists have over the years produced locally while depending largely on locally sourced foods.
Speaking earlier during his opening address, the Vice Chancellor of the institution and Chief host Professor Olusola Oyewole represented by Deputy Vice Chancellor Academics, Professor Ololade Enikuomehin said having undergone tremendous transformation within 10 years, IFSERAR has been re-positioned to help tackle food insecurity and parlous agricultural system in Nigeria through its multi-disciplinary research approach in line with the institution tripodial mandate comprising teaching, research and extension services.
He added: “ After 28 years of existence FUNAAB had undergone sufficient transformation to full maturity and have attained high level standard of greater performance which has positioned her for more impactful contributions to national development. Also, over the years the University had consistently witnessed a remarkable growth and developments under its present and past Vice Chancellors who has positioned the institution on the landmark of success”
He stated further that the institution will continue to strive harder until it achieves the status of a world class university.
In his remarks, the host professor and Director Institute of Food Security, Environmental Resources and Agricultural Research (IFSERAR), Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Ogun State, Professor Akinwumi Omotayo said that the choice of the theme of the address emanated from the institution’s comprehensive analysis of the state of food insecurity and food dependency in south western Nigeria.
“We feel very concerned about the state of food security in south-western Nigeria and the nation at large. We continue to see some unpleasant evidences of the impact of climate change in our immediate environment and the activities of Fulani pastoralists. We have also noticed that indigenous farmers in this region are gradually disappearing and food production is declining rapidly.
Consequently, it does appear that the south-west is increasingly becoming more vulnerable to food insecurity than other parts of Nigeria.”
On pastoralist Fulanis, he said: “It is becoming rather unclear whether indeed some of them are actually cattle herders or criminals. Some appear to be part of terrorist groups as they not only carry simple traditional weapons of deterrence but sophisticated assault rifles with their activities now limiting crop farm operations in many parts of southwest”
This was disclosed by a Livestock System Research Specialist and an expert in agro-pastoral production system from the National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI), Shika, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Professor Jerome Gefu.
Professor Gefu while speaking as the keynote speaker at the 3rd Annual in-House Research Review and Exhibition in Abeokuta stressed the potentials in livestock production.The exhibition had the theme; Climate change, Fulani pastoralists production system and Food Security in Nigeria.
He cautioned that a food-secured country is one which has the ability to feed itself over a long period of time without having to source for food aids from anywhere, adding that in the West African sub-region for instance, livestock contributes about 44 % to Countries GDP’s with Mali contributing greatly in the sub-region amidst effect of climate warming.
“More than 1 billion of the global extremely poor people reside in the rural areas and engaged fully in or partially in livestock pastoralism for their livelihood. And for such people, livestock contributes largely to their livelihood. Also, improvement in the control of tsetse-fly has contributed greatly as many of these areas have been virtually cleared of its excesses”.
He added that categories of pastoralists like the Bokolojis, Fulanis, Shuwa Arabs and the indigenous pastoralists have over the years produced locally while depending largely on locally sourced foods.
Speaking earlier during his opening address, the Vice Chancellor of the institution and Chief host Professor Olusola Oyewole represented by Deputy Vice Chancellor Academics, Professor Ololade Enikuomehin said having undergone tremendous transformation within 10 years, IFSERAR has been re-positioned to help tackle food insecurity and parlous agricultural system in Nigeria through its multi-disciplinary research approach in line with the institution tripodial mandate comprising teaching, research and extension services.
He added: “ After 28 years of existence FUNAAB had undergone sufficient transformation to full maturity and have attained high level standard of greater performance which has positioned her for more impactful contributions to national development. Also, over the years the University had consistently witnessed a remarkable growth and developments under its present and past Vice Chancellors who has positioned the institution on the landmark of success”
He stated further that the institution will continue to strive harder until it achieves the status of a world class university.
In his remarks, the host professor and Director Institute of Food Security, Environmental Resources and Agricultural Research (IFSERAR), Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Ogun State, Professor Akinwumi Omotayo said that the choice of the theme of the address emanated from the institution’s comprehensive analysis of the state of food insecurity and food dependency in south western Nigeria.
“We feel very concerned about the state of food security in south-western Nigeria and the nation at large. We continue to see some unpleasant evidences of the impact of climate change in our immediate environment and the activities of Fulani pastoralists. We have also noticed that indigenous farmers in this region are gradually disappearing and food production is declining rapidly.
Consequently, it does appear that the south-west is increasingly becoming more vulnerable to food insecurity than other parts of Nigeria.”
On pastoralist Fulanis, he said: “It is becoming rather unclear whether indeed some of them are actually cattle herders or criminals. Some appear to be part of terrorist groups as they not only carry simple traditional weapons of deterrence but sophisticated assault rifles with their activities now limiting crop farm operations in many parts of southwest”
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