The National Sheep and Goat Development Association of Nigeria (NASHGODAN) has urged the Federal Government to establish community-based feed banks nationwide to provide livestock farmers with affordable, quality and readily available animal feed.
The association’s National President, Abdullateef Ahmed, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, citing rising feed costs as a major threat to sheep and goat farming.
Ahmed urged federal, state and local governments to collaborate with financial institutions, development partners, feed manufacturers and research institutions to address the challenge.
He recommended promoting locally available feed resources, encouraging fodder production and improving feed storage and preservation to reduce production costs.
The NASHGODAN president described affordable and nutritious feed as essential to animal growth, reproduction, meat quality and the overall profitability of livestock farming.
He warned that rising prices of maize, soybean and other feed ingredients, alongside transportation costs and seasonal shortages of pasture and fodder, were increasing the financial burden on farmers.
According to him, smallholder farmers, who contribute significantly to Nigeria’s sheep and goat production, are particularly vulnerable to the rising costs, which could force them to reduce feed quantities and experience slower animal growth, poor reproduction, higher mortality and reduced profits.
Ahmed added that persistent increases in feed prices could discourage young people and women from participating in livestock farming, reduce the supply of market-ready animals and push up meat prices, with implications for household incomes and national food security.
He reaffirmed NASHGODAN’s commitment to supporting efforts to establish community-based feed banks, mobilise farmers, organise training programmes and collect information on feed prices to guide interventions.
Ahmed said the association would also promote the participation of women and young people and monitor government interventions to ensure investments deliver measurable benefits to livestock farmers.
