Meat business is a huge business. The global beef market alone is massive.
According to Global Beef Market Report for 2023, global beef market is projected to hit 421.61 billion dollars by 2028, with a 4.05 per cent compound annual growth rate.
The figure is a leap from 332.29 billion dollars in 2022, In other words, over the next couple of years, the world’s beef industry is forecast to grow by 90 billion dollars.
The United Nations Commodity Trade Statistics Database (UN Comtrade) says Nigeria Exports of meat and edible meat offal stood at 200.66 dollars in 2021.
According to Statista, the Meat market in Nigeria is projected to grow by 10.90 per cent between 2025 and 2029 resulting in a market volume of 71.84 billion dollars in 2029.
Annually, the country consumes around 360,000 metric tonnes of beef, it says.
China is the world’s largest importer of beef, importing more than 63 billion dollars worth of beef in the past 5 years, according to Iowa Farm Bureau.
One of the largest livestock breeding states in the country, Borno, sees the livestock market as a huge opportunity to improve revenue and become less dependent on handouts from the Federation Account.
It was against the background that the Prof. Babagana Zulum-led administration inaugurated the Ngarannam Livestock Improvement and Ranch Settlement Estate, the first of its kind in the state at Mafa Local Government Area.
According to Dr Umar Kadafur, Deputy Governor and Supervising Commissioner, Livestock and Fisheries Development Ministry, the Ngarannam livestock estate was designed in line with the required operational tools, equipment and infrastructure.
“These centres will play a vital role in enhancing the quality of livestock breeds, with a particular focus on improving milk and meat production.
“Borno State Government built and equipped the multi-million-naira Ngarannam Breeding Centre and Provided over 1.5 billion naira for AI, Embroy Plssma Transfer Centres as well Liquid Nitrogen complex in the 2025 Budget,’’ he said.
Kadafur said the pasture Development Centres, were critical for sustainable grazing, as they offer dedicated spaces for pasture cultivation to ensure year-round feed availability for livestock as designed in the project.
“Currently Borno State Ministry of Livestock is managing 20 hectares of pasture under irrigation and cultivated well over 200 hectares of Rain fed pasture across the state.
“By establishing milk collection hubs, we create opportunities for dairy farmers to earn a stable income, increase local milk production, and meet our state’s dairy needs,” the deputy governor said.
It is important that Borno takes advantage of its location, human and material resources to tap into the huge livestock market, said Prof. Attahiru Jega in his keynote at the inauguration.
Jega, who is also the Co-chair of the Presidential Livestock Reforms Committee, spoke on: “Reforms in the Nigerian Livestock Sector: Unlocking Great Potentials for Economic Growth and Peaceful Coexistence.”
Jega’s paper focused on the long-term impact of the livestock industry in Nigeria and the effects of business expansion without perfecting viable marketing strategies.
“It is essential to prioritise and address the unique challenges faced by different regions,” he said, even as he emphasised improving productivity across the livestock value chain is a national priority.
Jega pointed out that regions with low animal output and market access may benefit more from first addressing market-related issues rather than focusing on productivity.
“Already a media report had established that China has been identified as one of the biggest beef markets in the world.
“If I were Zulum, I would take advantage of this information and see how the state’s livestock breeders could fashion their business standard to international best practices.
“This is in order to suit the demands of the teeming beef consumers in China and beyond,’’ Jega said.
Jega also urged the expansion of successful practices and models in managing the ranches, noting that many effective practices were currently being implemented on a small scale.
“Borno government has to start preparing the state’s livestock products to be competitive by showcasing their healthy and well-fed cows before the international markets.
“For example, the development of improved animal breeds suited to various regions should be prioritised, especially for poultry adapted to specific agro-ecologies.
“Small and medium-scale dairy producers must embrace innovation and growth to remain competitive.
“Evidence indicates that start-ups and smaller dairy producers can thrive as demonstrated by small and medium-sized dairy companies driving the 1.1 billion dollars growth in the US dairy sector between 2015 and 2018,” he said.
Jega, therefore, called on the state to adopt diverse and integrated strategies, saying a multifaceted approach may be more effective in enhancing livestock value chains.
According to him, the transformative reforms in Nigeria’s livestock sector will enhance productivity, reduce poverty, generate wealth, and bolster both domestic and international trade through import substitution.
“The livestock sector holds vast potential to drive economic growth, create employment opportunities, and promote sustainable development throughout Nigeria.
“However, significant challenges persist, and addressing them strategically and systematically, is the best, if not only way, to pave the way for a prosperous and peaceful future,” he argued.
But given the huge potential in the market, abandoning or neglecting it because of challenges is not an option.
“It is crucial to evaluate what works best for different producer categories and end-users, tailoring solutions accordingly.
“Additionally, building the ability of smallholder farmers is necessary to help them fully capitalise on the opportunities offered by value chain development.
“Strengthen commitment to animal agriculture research with a long-term focus Research should not be solely focused on quick, short-term solutions but should also prioritise sustainable models that foster long-term growth.
“The animal agriculture sector requires research that is responsive to the evolving needs of consumers and end-users.
“Develop more practical research-business strategies for the sub-sector, especially in vaccine production.
“The livestock sector needs strategies that bridge research and business, particularly in areas like vaccine development, to ensure greater industry resilience and sustainability,’’ Jega recommended.
He further advocated the establishment of “appropriate regulations with a focus on animal welfare, implementation of clear regulations that prioritise animal welfare, among others.
The Ministry of Livestock Development is at the centre of ensuring that the dream of leveraging the livestock market to boost internally-generated revenue is a reality.
The minister in charge of the ministry, Idi Maiha says in spite of challenges, it is achievable in line with Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Maiha said identifying with the Ngarannam Livestock Estate was a demonstration of collective agenda of expanding the commercial value of the nation’s livestock sector.
Maiha further said his ministry was currently embarking on key interventions to support the efforts of state governments to harness the inherent potential of the sector.
“These include rehabilitation of the grazing reserves and livestock markets across the country, breed improvement and vaccination against trans-boundary animal diseases such as contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP), Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) and Peste-Des-Petits-Ruminants (PPR).
“Furthermore, feed and fodder value chain is being organised through the cluster and productive alliance models for sustainable production.
“The goal is to transform the feed and fodder component of the value chain into growing businesses that would guaranty profit for the farmers,” the minister said.
One major obstacle to the growth and development of Borno State and other states in the northeast region over the decades is the Boko Haram insurgency.
Livestock farming is major aspect of life that took a hit as the insurgents took over swaths of land in the state.
Fortunately, Chief of Army Staff, Lieut.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, during a recent visit to expressed commitment to end the insurgency as soon as possible even as most portions under insurgents’ control have been reclaimed.
With peace returning to the area, it is expected that livestock business will begin to thrive once again. Ngarannam Livestock Improvement and Ranch Settlement Estate will be in a prime position to flourish.
Zulum appreciates the role of livestock sub-sector in supporting rural livelihoods and enhancing food security within the state’s borders as encapsulated in his 25-Year Development Plan as well as the 10 –Pact Agenda.
“The creation of these three Rural Grazing Area (RUGA) centres marks a significant milestone in our journey towards economic revitalisation and sustainable development.
“Each of these centres is a hub of comprehensive infrastructure, encompassing over 27 essential facilities that will enable our people to thrive and prosper in livestock and agricultural activities.
“These facilities include a housing estate complete with road networks, schools, health clinics, veterinary services, and state-of-the-art dairy and beef upgrading centres.
“We have established pasture development centres, milk collection centres, earth dams to secure water supply, markets to foster local trade, and security outposts to ensure a safe and secure environment for all,’’ he said.
These infrastructure, according to him, represent not just physical structures but a beacon of hope, restoration, and resilience for the people of the state.
“Beyond establishing these centres, my administration has taken additional steps to restore livelihoods affected by insurgency.
“Each of the 461 households from eighteen communities in the Ngarannam area, who have been victims of Boko Haram insurgency, will receive pairs of bull and heifer, goats, and a humanitarian relief package consisting of essential food and non-food items.
“This support is not merely a gesture but a solid investment in the livelihoods of our citizens and a vital step in their journey towards self-sufficiency and dignity,’” Zulum said.
Experts say the effective application of the business principles as outlined by Jega will go a long way towards the realisation of the potential inherent in Zulum’s ambitious livestock business outlay.
(NANFeatures)
