News in brief:
– Minister Idi Mukhtar Maiha urges Nigerian universities to establish functional farms for hands-on agricultural training.
– Collaboration with the private sector is essential to ensure the economic viability and sustainability of these farms.
The Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, has urged Nigerian universities to incorporate farms within every faculty of agriculture to enhance practical, hands-on training, especially in livestock farming. This, he believes, will play a vital role in addressing food insecurity and ensuring sustainability across the agricultural sector.
During a visit by a delegation from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Maiha emphasised the importance of transforming agricultural education into actionable, real-world solutions. He advocated for a shift in focus towards the commercialisation of research and innovation, particularly in livestock farming.
According to the Minister, universities should not only focus on theoretical knowledge but should also engage in practical, commercial agricultural endeavours to meet the country’s food security challenges.
He also proposed that university farms serve as centres of excellence where students can gain real-world experience, experiment with innovations, and learn sustainable farming practices.
“Knowledge must be commercialised,” he stressed, highlighting the untapped potential within Nigeria’s agricultural institutions. “We need to leverage this capacity to drive sustainable solutions and supply the country’s food needs in various forms.”
Maiha noted that the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development (FMLD) oversees all farmable animals in Nigeria, including cattle, goats, sheep, rabbits, pigs, donkeys, and bees. He urged the private sector to collaborate with universities to make these university farms economically viable and commercially successful.
“We will work together to meet the mandate of this ministry,” he assured, emphasising the importance of collaboration to achieve the country’s food production goals.
