FG to stop livestock importation in 2015 ' Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday in Abuja said that by 2015, Nigeria would cease to import livestock as it is expected to be self-sufficient in livestock production by then.This will be realised through the Federal Governments Livestock Transformation Action Plan, which has targeted self-sufficiency in meat and livestock production that year.Jonathan also lent support to efforts of the private sector to promote artificial insemination to increase the production of indigenous breeds.The President, who spoke through the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, stated this during the first convocation and third investiture of Fellows of the Post-Graduate College of Veterinary Surgeons in Nigeria.He said, "The training in artificial insemination and embryo transfer, especially, has the potential of improving visible impact in the livestock industry through rapid and cost effective increase in the productivity of animals through the genetic improvement of the indigenous breeds."I understand that the private sector has taken an active role in the artificial insemination work in order to increase the productivity of indigenous breeds. That is good for Nigeria and is in line with my administrations drive to promote local foods; the expansion of the private sector in improving the productivity of our local breeds is commendable.""The government is keen on bridging the demand and supply gap in livestock production through accelerated investments in the livestock value chains. Our goal is to create jobs, wealth and sustain self-sufficiency in livestock production by the year 2015," he added.The President also stated that the Federal Government had embarked on the rehabilitation of veterinary teaching hospitals in three universities that offered Veterinary Medicine.The beneficiaries are veterinary teaching hospitals of the University of Ibadan, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
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