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By Daniel Adaji
The Federal Government has announced plans to collaborate with the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) to convert farm residues into viable animal feed.
This is part of its broader efforts to enhance food security and reduce waste in Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhta Maiha, disclosed this when he received a delegation from ICRISAT in Abuja on Wednesday.
The partnership will focus on deploying locally fabricated and affordable stover chopper machines that can convert crop residues into usable feed with up to 90 percent efficiency.
Maiha said the initiative represents a practical step toward addressing Nigeria’s livestock feed deficit while promoting sustainable agricultural practices. According to him, “People can take the grains, the foliage, and the residue, everything can be turned into animal feed.”
The Minister emphasised that the country’s agricultural challenges could be transformed into opportunities through dialogue and collaboration on crop-livestock integration, machinery accessibility, and stronger extension services.
He urged ICRISAT to begin by leveraging existing crop varieties before expanding into grass and pasture cultivation that complements crop residue utilization.
Maiha called on the Institute to intensify sensitization efforts among farmers and other stakeholders, using local languages to promote the adoption of residue-based feed as a cheaper, environmentally friendly alternative to conventional options.
He reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to advancing livestock development, noting that discussions are ongoing with state governors to operationalize grazing reserves.
“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, ICRISAT’s Country Representative for Nigeria and Senior Scientist for Sorghum Breeding, said the Institute—working with Crop Mandate NARES—has developed dual-purpose sorghum and millet varieties that serve both grain and fodder needs.
He revealed that research findings show birds fed with Kaura sorghum gained eight kilograms more than those fed with maize, underscoring sorghum’s potential as a cost-effective ingredient in poultry feed production.
Angarawai reaffirmed ICRISAT’s readiness to support the Nigeria Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy (NL-GAS) by designing extension messages through the Farmer Field School approach and assisting the Ministry in developing a policy framework for staffing and recruitment.