Software for least cost animal feed ‘ll boost livestock productivity, food security – Prof Ahamefule
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Professor Francis Ahamefule of the Michael Okpara University Umudike, has said that the development of a software for least cost climate ration formulation, would help boost livestock productivity and food security.
He hailed the United States of America for the innovation which he described as a major milestone in the efforts to boost animal production.
Professor Ahamefule spoke during a workshop on formulation and evaluation programs for beef cattle in Nigeria.
The workshop was organised by the University of California, Davis (UCD); United States Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS); and the US Embassy in collaboration with the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU); and the Nigerian Institute of Animal Science (NIAS).
He commended resource persons who came from US to educate participants at the workshop in the technological breakthrough, promising that the rich knowledge gained at the event will be well utilized.
Prof. Ahamefule expressed hope that the innovation would also help protect the environment against adverse effects of climate change.
He also said it would help arrest herder-farmer conflicts in the country through modernized ranching.
Professor Ahamefule who is the Workshop Training Coordinator for Nigeria, thanked the participants for their impressive response, and tasked them to ensure that the knowledge acquired in the training “is shared and transferred to their colleagues, farmers, lecturers and students in their various areas of operation.”
In 3 remark, Director USDA Foreign Agricultural Services, Dr Andre Ntamach, said Nigeria as a major player in the African continent, should be self sufficient in food production.
He explained that the Ration Software technology, was aimed at ensuring least cost ration for beef cattle without compromising basic nutritional requirements and methane reduction.
According to him, the software can be updated to accommodate other livestock species as dairy cattle, sheep and goats as well as swine and poultry.
He said that the main objective of the project funded by USDA FAS, “is the use of FARP software to improve feed ration formulation to meet climate smart livestock production needs in Nigeria in line with sustainable development goals.”
He recalled that herder-farmer conflicts have been traceable to open grazing which the new technology seeks to solve.
“Deployment of this technology would engender rearing of cattle in colonies and ranches and curb the incessant and perennial herder-farmer conflicts in Nigeria which has tremendous negative impact on crop and animal production”, he submitted.
The team lead, Dr Ermias Kebreab, who expressed delight in the quality of delivery and participation of the training workshop, called for the extension of this innovation down the line to rural livestock farmers.
According to him, adoption of the innovation in the agricultural sector, will ensure food security amidst looming global food crisis.
The workshop technical session anchored by Dr Abbas Ahmadi, demonstrated ration formulation and evaluation programs for PC and mobile phones for participants in English and Hausa languages.
Participants at the workshop were drawn from Ministry of Agriculture, industries, academia and farmers across the length and breadth of Nigeria.
The need to reduce global warming caused by gas emissions, was equally stressed at the workshop.
