Massive Investment In Piggery Will Help Nigerian Economy-Adesehinwa

An expert in Animal Science and Production at the Institute of Agricultural Research and Technology, I A R & T, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile -Ife, Osun State, Professor Akinyele Adesehinwa has disclosed that Nigeria has all it takes for self sustainance if the country can invest massively in pigs production.

The distinguished professor stated this, while delivering his inaugural lecture titled; “The fox and the piglet: A Paradox For Untapped Resource in Nigeria,” at the Obafemi Awolowo University.

Adesehinwa noted that by using the available and local feed resources and improved technologies by relevant trained professionals the country is capable of providing enough protein for its large population.

“Nigeria can meet its demands for meat or animal protein supply, thereby improving the nutrition of its populace as well as increase its people’s income generating potential by taking advantage of the highly prolific short generation interval and fast growing attributes of pigs and it’s value chain – a currently untapped resource in Nigeria,” he said.

Professor Adesehinwa disclosed that Nigeria is blessed with several unexploited, untapped, unexplored and underexploited resources, adding that the most critical is that which has to do with mitigating food insecurity (MDG2).

He said that World Health Organisation WHO has called for action for zero hunger (SDG) and for good health and well – being (SDG3) for world transformation.

“The pig industry in Nigeria can be a huge contributor toward Nigeria’s attainment of the UN Sustainable Development Goal on Zero Hunger and Poverty Eradication as a means of job creation, sustainable source of income, source of poverty reduction.

“Nigeria has the required resources to meet her needs in pig production, but we are not taking advantage of them,” he said.

Adesehinwa however, called on the government to, as a matter of urgency, and in line with global best practices, revisit the recommendations as contained in Vision 20:20:20 documents and pleaded with the government to unbundle the legal framework establishing NAPRI to bring about the specie or commodity-based Animal Husbandry Research Institutes.

He then called for proper integration of the institute’s programme into the university structure to allow the right synergy between the Institute and the faculty of Agriculture.

Professor Adesehinwa began his academic and research career at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria’s National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services (NAERLS) in 1993 as an Extension Specialist in Livestock and Fisheries Technology Transfer Programme, where he was involved in several national and international studies and surveys across the length and breadth of Nigeria, before transferring his services to Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile- Ife in 2003.

-Kunle Bakare.