Nigeria to Strengthen Livestock Feed Systems with Forage Seed Partnership

News in Brief:

-Nigeria's seed council and animal production institute signed an agreement to strengthen forage seed systems, improve feed availability, and boost productivity.

-The partnership will focus on forage research, seed certification, quality assurance, digital traceability, and farmer capacity building as part of broader livestock sector reforms.

The Federal Government of Nigeria has signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen livestock feed systems and improve agricultural resilience by developing forage seed.

This agreement, signed between the National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC) and the National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI), establishes a framework for collaboration in forage seed research, certification, commercialisation, quality assurance, and sustainable livestock feed production.

The signing ceremony brought together senior officials from the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, research institutions, and the seed regulatory sector.

Focus on Forage Development and Seed Quality

Speaking at the event, stakeholders described the partnership as a strategic intervention to address long-standing challenges affecting Nigeria’s livestock industry, including poor pasture productivity, limited forage availability, and inadequate livestock nutrition.

Under the agreement, NAPRI will lead research efforts to develop improved forage varieties suited to Nigeria’s diverse agro-ecological zones. NASC, on the other hand, will provide regulatory oversight through seed certification, standards development, testing, and compliance monitoring.

The partnership will also integrate forage seed systems into NASC’s digital platforms to improve traceability, e-certification, and seed data management. In addition, the collaboration will support technical training, extension services, and capacity building for seed producers and researchers across the country.

Officials revealed that the initiative is expected to improve forage seed availability, strengthen livestock feed systems, enhance animal productivity, and contribute to Nigeria’s long-term food security and economic growth goals.

Government Expands Livestock Sector Reforms

The development is part of broader reforms and investments currently being driven by the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development (FMLD) to reposition Nigeria’s livestock sector.

In recent weeks, the ministry has intensified efforts across several areas of the industry, including dairy development, veterinary services, animal genetics, and livestock health management. Earlier this month, the Federal Government partnered with the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) to improve dairy production through better cattle genetics, while also launching a nationwide livestock study to strengthen sector planning and data collection.

The government has also trained dairy farmers, supported vaccination campaigns against cattle diseases, deepened international livestock cooperation with countries such as Argentina, and signed partnerships with private sector players, including Nestlé, to boost dairy skills acquisition and investment in the livestock value chain.

Analysts say the growing focus on livestock feed and forage systems could help reduce production costs for farmers and improve the sustainability of Nigeria’s livestock industry over the long term.