Nigerian Institute of Animal Science (NIAS) has moved to combat day-old chicks adulteration in Nigeria, adding that over $3 billion is lost to agricultural input counterfeiting in Nigeria.
In a one day workshop organized by NIAS in collaboration with Promex Multi-Services Nigeria Limited in Umuahia, Abia State, the Registrar/CEO, NIAS, Prof. Eustace A. Iyayi decried the huge losses Nigerian farmers suffer due to incessant counterfeiting and low quality agricultural inputs.
The NIAS boss who introduced Farmsured Technology; a regulatory instrument to combat day-old chicks adulteration to farmers, noted that the institute is committed towards enhancing food security in Nigeria.
In his keynote lecture entitled; ‘Farmsured technology: A regulatory instrument for checking day-old chicks adulteration in Nigeria’, the CEO, Agdyna Limited, Mr Ayo Okediji, expressed worries over noncompliance with good agricultural practices, such that there was a huge reliance on imports, which further denies farmers’ access to profit.
He said that the Farmsured technology would enable farmers to access high-quality agricultural inputs, gain insights, and track quality day-old chicks.
The technology, he said would help add value to NIAS operations in terms of standardising livestock service centres, combating multiple taxations, product tracking and supply chain traceability, and protecting the interests of breeder farms and hatchery operators.
Speaking also, NIAS’ Head, Inspectorate and Compliance, Mr Olufemi Atunbi, said the use of technology to guarantee day-old chicks’ protection and quality was long overdue.
He explained that with the technology, the agro-inputs will come in sealed, unadulterated, and protected from tampering and diversion.
Meanwhile, the Abia state government has reiterated their commitments towards promoting agriculture in the state.
The Abia state Commissioner for Agriculture, Prof. Monica Ironkwe who disclosed this at the event, added that Gov. Alex Otti-led administration would collaborate with NIAS in uplifting Animal Husbandry in the state.
In her words: “We will do things differently to ensure food security in the state. This government is going to promote animal production as we all depend so much on it”.
She commended NIAS for their commitments towards the growth and development of agriculture in Nigeria, urging participants to take the knowledge gained in the workshop on animal production seriously.
Ironkwe further revealed that Abia state would soon establish an animal feed mill to help cut down the challenge of sourcing out good feeds for the animals.
In his remark, the representative of NIAS Council, Prof. Kelvin Amaefula, noted that the institute is interested in the development of animal production in Nigeria; hence, the need to train poultry farmers in Abia state and beyond.
He expressed optimism that the Farmsured technology would improve traceability, transparency and guarantee sustainable profit.
Fielding questions from our reporter, one of the poultry farmers at the workshop, Okere Ugochinyere, thanked NIAS and other stakeholders for organizing the training, maintaining that it was timely, owing to the hyper-rise in input prices, implementing technologies that optimise feed production processes among others.
She promised to use the knowledge gained from the workshop to improve her poultry business.
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