Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Livestock Development is partnering with the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) to convert crop residues into animal feed using locally made stover chopper machines with up to 90% efficiency.
Minister Idi Mukhta Maiha stated that the move will reduce agricultural waste, make livestock feed more affordable, and enhance crop-livestock integration. He urged ICRISAT to start with existing crop varieties and expand into pasture cultivation.
ICRISAT’s Country Representative, Dr Ignatius Angarawai, noted that dual-purpose sorghum and millet varieties can support both grain and fodder production. Trials showed that poultry fed Kaura sorghum gained 8 kg more than those fed maize, proving its potential in feed formulation.
The initiative supports Nigeria’s Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy (NL-GAS), aiming to enhance feed availability, productivity, and sustainability across grazing reserves in Adamawa, Plateau, and the FCT.