A lecturer at the University of Pretoria, South Africa, Professor Folorunsho Fasina, has advised the Federal Government to leverage technology and innovation to drive the development of the livestock sector in Nigeria.
Speaking at the 5th Anniversary Celebration of Farm Alert on Monday in Abuja, he pointed out that technology-driven approach and innovation are lacking in the nation’s livestock sector.
Fasina, who also works with Food and Agriculture Organisation, FAO of the United Nations, observed that Nigeria is endowed with enormous resources in the livestock industry, which lack proper coordination.
He said: “Technology and innovation are lacking in the livestock industry in Nigeria.
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“Nigeria is resource rich but we are not organised. There is something that is called vertical integration in the industry.
“We are not doing enough of that in the country. Nigeria should be employers of labour.”
Fasina, who doubles as the chairman of the Advisory Board of Farm Alert, expressed joy at the milestones recorded by the organisation in its five years of existence in Nigeria.
He added that the organisation has spread to six States in Nigeria as well as reached over 1000 communities with animal health products.
“The five year anniversary celebration of Farm Alert is a moment of joy for me. Farm Alert is a transformative and innovative company.
“The livestock industry has been transformed by Farm Alert in the last five years. The organisation is innovating constantly,” Fasina stressed.
In an interview with newsmen, the Chief Executive Officer of Farm Alert, Dr. Femi Kayode, revealed the plans of the organisation to establish its presence in other African countries.
“It is part of our plan for 2025 to 2026, to scale to other African countries, we have West Africa as our big scaling part.
“The animal health infrastructure is the same everywhere. We are arguably the largest animal healthcare brand in Nigeria. We want to do that in West Africa within 2025/2026
“From 2027 to 2030, we will be starting our operations in East Africa, South Africa, Central Africa, and other African countries that will need the expertise, we have built over the years.”
“By 2030, we shall be the largest distributor of animal feed in Africa,” Kayode said.
Speaking about the successes recorded by Farm Alert, the President, Nigerian Medical Veterinary Association, NMVA, Dr. Moses Arokoyo, said the organisation has come a long way, as it has brought innovation and creativity to veterinary practice in Nigeria.
Arokoyo disclosed that NMVA has partnered Farm Alert to provide N20million grant to 10 young veterinarians or vetprenuers as start-up capital.
He revealed that N60million grant would be given to 30 veterinarians, courtesy of the partnership between Farm Alert and NMVA.
Mrs Grace Samuel, Country Managing Director of Farm Alert, said the organisation started operations in November 2019, as the organisation has made animal health products accessible and affordable to livestock farmers.
At the event, Farm Alert empowered 12 young veterinarians with N12million as start-up capital.
It would be recalled that Farm Alert works to make animal health products like vaccines, drugs, feeds, and supplements more accessible to underserved communities in Nigeria.
The organisation does this by aggregating the needs of community veterinary stores; delivering products quickly and cheaply through their distribution centres and partnering with local animal health stores and professionals.