FG Seeks Stronger USDA Partnership to Boost Poultry, Aquaculture Exports

News in Brief:

— Nigeria's livestock ministry and USDA are strengthening collaboration to improve poultry and aquaculture productivity, access to finance, animal health systems and market opportunities.

— The four-year programme will focus on farmer training, trade facilitation, SPS compliance, institutional capacity and public-private partnerships, beginning with a nationwide baseline study.

The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development (FMLD) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening collaboration with the USDA Food for Progress Nigeria Programme to improve productivity and market access.

The partnership will focus on access to finance, farmer training, sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) systems, animal health, trade facilitation and stronger public-private partnerships.

The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Chinyere Ijeoma Akujobi, gave the assurance during a recent meeting with a USDA Food for Progress Nigeria delegation led by Andrew Musa in Abuja.

Partnership Aligned with National Livestock Strategy

Akujobi described the collaboration as an important step towards advancing the Federal Government's livestock transformation agenda under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda.

She said the ministry has developed policy frameworks, including the National Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy (NL-GAS) and the Livestock Master Plan, which identify the sector's priorities and areas requiring intervention.

According to her, aligning development partner programmes with these national frameworks would improve coordination, maximise investment impact and support the sustainability of interventions.

The Permanent Secretary also stressed the importance of involving the ministry throughout the programme's implementation, including its ongoing baseline study.

She proposed establishing a joint technical working group comprising relevant ministry departments and the USDA Food for Progress Nigeria team to coordinate programme planning, implementation and monitoring.

Programme Targets Poultry and Aquaculture Constraints

The four-year programme is designed to address key constraints affecting productivity and trade in Nigeria's poultry and aquaculture sectors.

According to Musa, the initiative will focus on improving access to finance, facilitating trade, strengthening institutions and developing stronger public-private partnerships.

The programme will work with the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, financial institutions, producers, private sector operators and other stakeholders to address barriers across the two value chains.

Musa said implementation would begin with a comprehensive baseline study to establish performance indicators against which the programme's outcomes can be measured.

He assured the ministry that consultation and collaboration would continue throughout the programme.

Focus on Finance, Training and Market Access

The programme will support farmers through training and improved production practices while working to expand access to agricultural finance. It also aims to remove trade bottlenecks and strengthen partnerships across the livestock value chain.

Gustavo Alvarez, Director of Agriculture and Food Security Partners of the Americas, revealed that the initiative would promote agricultural productivity and trade while strengthening technical cooperation between Nigeria and the United States.

He identified capacity building, access to finance, trade facilitation and institutional support as key components of the programme.

Government Seeks Stronger SPS Systems

Akujobi also highlighted the importance of sanitary and phytosanitary systems to Nigeria's ambition to expand livestock exports.

She said stronger SPS systems would improve compliance with international animal health standards and enhance Nigeria's competitiveness in regional and international markets.

The ministry's Department of Quality Assurance, Standards and Certification, and the Office of the Chief Veterinary Officer of the Federation, serve as competent authorities for veterinary certification and import permits.

Akujobi disclosed that the ministry had automated its veterinary certification processes to improve efficiency and transparency while strengthening coordination with agencies responsible for border control and quarantine.

Informal Sector and Indigenous Producers Included

The Permanent Secretary called for greater attention to Nigeria's informal poultry sector, gender inclusion and strategic communication.

She also advocated wider geographical coverage to ensure that programme benefits extend beyond selected production clusters.

During the meeting, ministry directors recommended that indigenous poultry producers should be incorporated into the programme and that existing government datasets should be integrated into project planning.

They also called for stronger institutional coordination from the early stages of implementation.

Discussions during the meeting also covered biosecurity, animal health services, certification, non-tariff trade barriers and access to export markets.

Other priorities included improving agricultural finance and strengthening institutional cooperation among government agencies responsible for livestock development and trade.

Both parties concluded the meeting by reaffirming their commitment to sustained collaboration throughout the programme's implementation.