Chidimma Uchegbu -Abuja
The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development has expressed readiness to collaborate with the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) on the use of locally fabricated and affordable stover chopper machines designed to convert crop residues into viable animal feed with up to 90 percent utilization efficiency.
The Honourable Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhta Maiha, made this known when he received a delegation from ICRISAT in his office in Abuja on Wednesday, October 15, 2025.
Maiha emphasized that agricultural challenges can be transformed into opportunities through effective dialogue and collaboration on crop-livestock integration, machinery accessibility, and the strengthening of extension services to drive agricultural development in Nigeria.
“People can take the grains, the foliage, and the residue , everything can be turned into animal feed,” the Minister said.
He urged the Institute to begin by leveraging the crop varieties currently available before expanding into grass and pasture cultivation that can be integrated with crop residue utilization.
According to the statement signed by the Director, Information and Public Relations, Ben. Bem Goong, The Minister also called on ICRISAT to intensify sensitization efforts among farmers and stakeholders, using various local languages to promote the adoption of residue-based animal feed as a cost-effective and sustainable alternative.
Reaffirming the Ministry’s commitment to this partnership, Maiha disclosed that discussions are ongoing with state governors to advance livestock development nationwide.
“We are commencing with five grazing reserves across Adamawa, Plateau, the FCT, and other selected states,” he stated.
In his remarks, Dr. Ignatius Ijantiku Angarawai, Senior Scientist for Sorghum Breeding and ICRISAT Country Representative for Nigeria, highlighted that to consolidate and sustain this initiative, the Institute
in collaboration with Crop Mandate NARES, has developed dual-purpose sorghum and millet varieties for farmers’ use.
He added that research findings have shown that birds fed with Kaura sorghum recorded an 8-kilogram weight gain over those fed with maize, positioning sorghum as a viable substitute in poultry feed production.
Dr. Angarawai reaffirmed ICRISAT’s readiness to collaborate with the Ministry in supporting the Nigeria Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy (NL-GAS) through:
The design of extension messages for dissemination via the Farmer Field School approach in partnership with NARs, and the development of a policy framework on staffing strategy and recruitment processes.
