About 98 per cent of cattle consumed in the state are from the northern part of the country or from across the border.<br><br><br><blockquote>Lagos State consumes an estimated N328 billion worth of cow meat per annum.<br><br>About 98 per cent of cattle consumed in the state are from the northern part of the country or from across the border.<br><br>The remaining 2 per cent is a shortfall in local production and represents about 181,757 tons of meat or about 1,235,601 cattle per annum.<br><br>These were made known on Monday in Lagos by the Permanent Secretary in the states Ministry of Agriculture, Ibironke Emokpae.<br><br>She represented the commissioner, Abisola Olusanya, at a cattle feedlot screening for 36 investors.<br><br>She noted that the feedlot screening was necessary because the transactional value of cattle traded in Lagos State was huge.<br><br>She added that when the red meat transformation agenda comes fully into play it would help the state government to eliminate logistics costs of transporting cattle.<br><br>Mrs Emokpae emphasised also that the cattle feedlots initiative would bridge the demand and supply gap and prevent food crises in the state.<br><br>The feedlot represents an intensive production system with the goal of growing and fattening cattle until they reach slaughter weight.<br><br>The partnership with private investors will prevent food crisis associated with ethno-religious crisis, cattle rustling, and zoonotic diseases and encourage animal traceability, she said.<br><br>The state embarked on the Cattle Feedlot Systems partnership to evolve a model that will bring in investors who are fully ready technically, administratively and financially to kick-start the project.<br><br>I should bring to your remembrance that Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olus administration which is keen in making our agricultural sector viable and sustainable decided to change the face of agriculture and food system in the state.<br><br>The governor made this possible through the Ministry of Agricultures five-year roadmap where he established linkages, collaborations and strategic partnership with organisations, she said.<br><br>Mrs Emokpae said the government remained focused on enforcing a market structure that ensured a transformation in food systems.<br><br>It, therefore, invited interested investors through media advertisements to bid for the feedlots, she said, adding that the state received more than 150 Expressions of Interest as against the 100 it proposed.<br><br>In his remarks, Ayokunle Omileye, a project manager in the ministry noted that the state had acquired about 750 hectares of land for the project.<br><br>He noted that the exercise would take place at the three senatorial zones of Badagry, Ikorodu and Epe.<br><br>He added that the state government had cleared about 250 hectares of land for the first phase and would provide road networks, electricity and water supply for investors in the project.<br><br>One of the investors, Mr Olawale Talabi noted that the project was long overdue adding that it would bring an end to food crisis in the state.<br><br>I think the ministry has just got it right with the new commissioner because feedlot is very important,<br><br>This will ensure that the cattle are well taken care of, and consumers are sure of the source of meat they eat.<br><br>In addition, we cannot be rearing animals all over the place, but with the feedlot system, just like ranching, there will be quality of meat in Lagos State, he said.<br><br>Talabi said the project would also bring an end to infiltration by diseased cattle coming from neighbouring countries.<br><br>The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the exercise is: Five Years Agriculture Roadmap: Cattle Feedlot System Partnership with Investors in Lagos State.<br><br>(NAN)</blockquote><br><a rel=ugc href="https://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/ssouth-west/528625-lagos-consumes-n328-billion-worth-of-beef-annually-govt.html">https://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/ssouth-west/528625-lagos-consumes-n328-billion-worth-of-beef-annually-govt.html</a>
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