Govt partners Ireland to improve livestock production

AS part of efforts to improve livestock production, the Federal Government has disclosed plans to set up 200 artificial insemination centres across the country.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, disclosed this Tuesday in Abuja during a meeting with a delegation of officials from Ireland led by the Minister of Agriculture, Food, Marine and Defence, Mr. Simon Coveney.

The minister who decried a situation where cattle produces one or less litre of milk per day in the country, said report has shown that 37 percent of Nigerian children are malnourished. He noted that the present administration was ready to collaborate with developed countries particularly the Irish government in its effort to move the agricultural sector forward.

Ogbeh said the ministry would engage in massive irrigation system in the northern part of the country to grow feeders to feed the cattle and prevent migration of cattle from the north, which usually results to the depletion of their nutrients.

Commending the Irish delegation for their visit and determination to foster more partnership with Nigeria, he said the nation was ready to partner with the Irish government on areas of capacity building, livestock production as well as expansion of palm oil and sugar industries among others.

Chief Ogbeh said the ministry would open up further discussion with the delegation in a bid to share ideas and knowledge on how to move the nation’s agricultural sector forward.

Earlier in his remarks, the Ireland Minister of Agriculture, Food, Marine and Defence and leader of the delegation said the purpose of their visit was to build on the existing relationship between their country and Nigeria, in order to boost trade and investments in agricultural development.