Integrating Innovation to Enhance Productivity

A Presentation by Mrs. Edobong Akpabio at the 2021 ASCON Conference of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria

I send my congratulations to the Animal Sciences Students Association of Nigeria and the Chapter of the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University on this occasion of your 2021 Conference. Thank you for inviting me to be a part of the maiden celebration.

I’m very inspired by the theme of this Conference, The Livestock Sector: Connecting the Unconnected, as it speaks of covering the gaps in the industry, which includes the generational gap. There’s a lot that young people can do to contribute to the sustainable development of the livestock industry in Nigeria.

Then again, the topic you have given to me for discussion, Integrating Innovation to Enhance Productivity, is equally captivating. Let me walk us through some foundation to our discussion today.

What is Livestock?

Livestock refers to animals that are domesticated primarily for food (meat, milk, eggs, etc) and also, for non-food products and purposes. In this latter group are livestock raised for fashion purposes (hides/skin, feathers, etc), security, espionage, recreation (pets, zoo, festivals, etc), research, and to help people living with disability (PLWDs), etc. So, animals are used in many ways and for a wide range of purposes.

The Livestock Industry in Nigeria

In a 2017 Report, the Federal Ministry for Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) wrote thus: “The number of livestock produced annually in Nigeria was as follows – 180 million poultry birds; 76 million goats, 43.4 million sheep, 18.4 million cattle, 7.5 million pigs, 1.4 million Equids (horses, donkeys, camels, etc).”

This tells us that Nigeria has comparative advantage in the production and consumption of livestock and livestock products. That’s a huge ‘A-ha’ for investors and entrepreneurs. While the Ministry has focused the ‘numbers’ on the commonly domesticated livestock, there’s been increased offerings such as in poultry – quail, duck, guinea fowl, geese, etc; buffalo, deer, etc; fish and seafood; non-ruminants like rabbit, grasshopper, snail, etc; beneficial insects, etc.

But one area that policy makers and administrators have paid little attention to is the non-food livestock sector. These are livestock raised for fashion purposes (hides/skin, feathers, etc), security, espionage, recreation (pets, zoo, festivals, etc), research, and to help people living with disability (PLWDs), etc. The opportunities in this area are incredibly huge and the country is losing mileage – income and visibility – that should ordinarily, accrue to the nation.

Agriculture Policies in Nigeria (2011-2021)

A Policy is a formal documented statement of intentions and sets of actions of a government or organization to either remove certain deficiencies or to improve the conditions in any particular area of concern/interest. ?In order to appreciate the developments in the livestock industry in the past 10 years, it is imperative that we examine the policies on Agriculture and the provisions for the livestock sector.

1.?????The Agriculture Transformation Agenda (2011-2015) - ATA

This policy was launched by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) in 2011 to promote Agriculture in Nigeria as a BUSINESS.

“We pass gold and see gold as dirt. And we look at Agriculture like that, when in fact it is the biggest business in the world. So, for me, I really want young people to be in Agriculture as a business.” – Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank and Nigeria’s former Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development

The ATA focused on many objectives, among which were on select livestock activities – cattle, poultry, fishery and aquaculture, piggery, etc for development and support; provide support for private sector involvement; develop the Agriculture value chain; and provide affordable funding for entrepreneurs and investors.

2.?????The Agriculture Promotion Policy (2016-2020) - APP

This policy was launched in July 2016 to build on the legacy of the expired ATA as a continuation of the development of agribusiness in Nigeria. The policy placed priority on the production of select activities for the export markets, such as, beef, fish and hides and skin; and to improving the productivity in some focused activities such as fish (aquaculture), dairy milk, and poultry.

3.?????The National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP)

While waiting for a revised policy on Agriculture, the APP having expired in 2020, we can make do with the NLTP which was launched in 2019 as an intervention programme to deepen the sustainable development of the livestock industry in Nigeria.

Benefits of the Livestock Industry in Nigeria

1.?????Food and Nutritional Security: According to the UN, food security means that “all people, at all times, have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets their food preferences and dietary needs for an active and healthy life.” Livestock activities play an important role in food security as they provide a good source of income and decent livelihood for entrepreneurs along the value chain. Livestock also contributes to nutrition, providing valuable protein for healthy growth and wellbeing.

2.?????Employment and Job Creation: According to the FAO, the livestock industry is one of the fastest-growing sectors in Agriculture and it offers gainful and productive employment opportunities along the entire value chain. In addition, the livestock industry has the capacity to generate jobs in other related sectors worldwide.

3.?????Economic Empowerment: The livestock industry has been recognized as having the capacity to provide opportunities for economic empowerment, especially, for women and young people. It contributes to household productivity, decent income and improved means of livelihood, and improved health and nutrition.

4.?????Community Development: A livestock project or business can help a community with the supply of food (and food products), family income, family nutrition, agricultural traction, employment, wealth creation, poverty reduction, skills acquisition, etc.

Integrating Innovation to Enhance Productivity

Let us commence our core discussion today by laying out the description of the key terms in the topic;

1.?????Innovation: Innovation is said to the process of creating value by applying new and useful solutions to meaningful situations or problems.

2.?????Productivity: Productivity has to do with the relationship between the quantity of goods/services produced (output) and the quantity of resources used in the production (input).

For innovation therefore, to enhance productivity, we need to integrate the process (es) of creating value such that the quantity of input deployed in production activities bring about higher output. The question that we should ask, therefore, is “How can we integrate innovation and creativity to improve and enhance productivity right through the livestock value chain?”

1.?????Use of Technology: According to Wikipedia, “technology is the sum of any techniques, skills, methods, and processes used in any endeavour in the accomplishment of objectives.” Technology is a solution provider, not an end in itself! In some cases, technology makes for better organization, and in some others, for a more efficient way of doing things. End of the day, technology goes a long way to improve and increase productivity. We need to continually, find ways to innovate our technology so we can be perpetually productive.

2.?????Production Systems: Our livestock production systems need innovation and creativity in order to enhance productivity. We need more and improved eco-friendly systems, community development programmes, conservation programmes, waste management/recycling programmes, etc.

3.?????Marketing Systems: We need continuous innovation and creativity in the way we communicate, deliver and exchange livestock products and services to the public. An array of platforms already exist for products innovation, branding, payment systems, digital marketing, eCommerce/Apps, Email marketing/Influencer marketing, logistics, etc, but there’s room for more to enhance productivity in the industry.

4.?????Standards: A standard is a guideline or rule stipulating the level of quality that is required or acceptable. The Agriculture sector is probably, the least regulated sector in Nigeria today. There are government standards here and there but they are not only few and far between, but there is hardly any enforcement of the provided regulations. This is very troubling. Standards ensure consistent uniformity; safety, quality and reliability of products, processes and services; and provide efficiency in production. Without standards, and their enforcement, innovation will be lacking and productivity cannot be guaranteed.

“The Livestock sector in Nigeria is worth N30 trillion…” – Alhaji Sabo Nanono, Nigeria’s former Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development

This statement throws a challenge today, to all the members of the Animal Sciences Students Association of Nigeria and especially, of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. Nigeria needs you and other young people to pay close attention to the developments in the nation’s economy and the livestock industry in particular. Remember that, after oil, Agriculture is the next largest contributor to the nation’s GDP.

Thank you for listening… God bless you… God bless the OAU, Ile-Ife… and God bless Nigeria!!!