The Director, Department of Veterinary and Pest Control Services, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Olaniran Alabi, has tasked agricultural stakeholders on ways to boost livestock production.
The Chief Veterinary Officer, stated this while addressing participants at the 47th National Livestock Development Committee meeting in Keffi, Nasarawa State.
According to him such modalities, when fashioned out, would further boost agricultural production, particularly livestock, for the overall development of the country.
He was optimistic that the pathway if harnessed would not only sustain agricultural system, but would also improve the standard of living of citizenry. The meeting according to him was aimed at brainstorming the concerned person on how to find lasting solution to the challenges facing the development of agriculture, especially livestock in Nigeria.
Alabi therefore urged the committee to make submissions that would enable them harmonise the issues relating to agriculture for the overall development of the country. He described the committee as the highest policy body on matters relating to animal health and veterinary public health issues as he called on members to make use of the contributions from different speakers so as to find lasting solutions to the challenges faced by the sector.
He said that the outcome of the meeting would be channeled to the National Council of Agriculture and Rural Development for necessary action on issues discussed to proffer solution.
Members of the committee are professionals in animal health drawn from the 36 states of the federation and the FCT, made up of various directors of veterinary services, directors of 11 veterinary teaching hospitals and the National President of Veterinary Medical Association of Nigeria as well as other critical stakeholders in the sector.
Some of the participants, who spoke with journalists, expressed satisfaction that the ideas derived at the meeting would yield result, considering the calibre of people at the event.