Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders
Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, has reacted to the Federal Government’s move to
ban the importation of milk.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)
had earlier in the week said it will place a ban on the importation of milk and
other dairy products into the country.
The CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele
disclosed this on Tuesday at the end of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting
in Abuja.
He said that FG was concluding
plans to effect the policy of restricting allocation of foreign exchange
(FOREX) for milk importation into Nigeria.
The CBN boss, however, noted that
for implementation of such a policy requires a robust strategy that addresses
underlying issues.
The herdsmen, in a statement on Friday signed by Baba Othman Ngelzarma, its National Secretary,
note that the “National Livestock Transformation Plan of (NLTP) is an
integrated plan that holistically solves the historic challenges that has
deprived the pastoralists from producing high quantity and quality beef and
dairy products demanded by the Nigerian market, ensuring that their goods do
not end up being sold at sub-standard prices.
“NLTP modernizes the industry
through handholding the pastoralists and allowing ranches to develop
organically with pastoralists as core participants in the Livestock production
chain which will ultimately impact wealth creation and knowledge transfer
mechanisms. This we strongly believe is a safer, more stable sustainable
pathway than one which favour only one part of the Livestock system.
“For MACBAN, partnership with
domestic and foreign value chain actors is critical. Whether with fodder and
pasture specialists at NAPRI, Zaria or dairy processors from Europe or
cross-breeding specialists from Brazil or vaccine developers from NVRI, Vom in
Jos, partnership across the livestock ecosystem is a requirement. Any plan that
does not place such a step at its core is doomed to fail.
“Therefore, for MACBAN, the
recent discussions between the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Development Finance
Department and dairy processors is a non-starter.
“The challenge is not solved by
lending money at 9% and requiring dairy companies to go to Kaduna, Niger,
Plateau, Kano or Oyo to locate and develop at least 10,000 hectares of land
within a grazing reserve commencing on or before September 2019.
“We believe such approach does
not speak to the aspirations of our members because without the Pastoralist
crop farmers, processors, bankers, ranchers, technical workers, extension
service providers, geneticists, and other stakeholders being involved, the
likely hood of failure will be very high.
“What is also most alarming with
the CBN proposal is the invitation given to the dairy processors to come up
with their own plan on how they will develop their dairy farms of at least
10,000 Ha in the grazing reserves proposed to them by CBN with cheap CBN loans
at 9% interest.
“This move is disastrous on two
counts: one, it disregards completely FGN approved NLTP that clearly outlines
the necessary steps needed to be taken to transform the livestock subsector
over 10 years in line with the desires and aspirations of all consulted
stakeholders.
“Secondly, the need for FGN
regulations and incentives for the roles of all partners in the transformation
processes to achieve the goals of peaceful coexistence between crop farmers and
pastoralists as well as enhancement of the pastoral productivity through
organic modernization of the pastoral production base with capacity to retain
their cultural livestock linkage in modernity and innovation for generations to
come.
“In view of this, we are advising
the CBN to retrace its steps and take a productive role that does not undo the
work done to date. As much as the infusion of capital into the livestock
sub-sector is deeply appreciated and welcome, it must occur in the right
strategic, stakeholder and cluster development context as provided in the NLTP
framework.
“It is important that the spirit
of partnership and transparent dialogue with which the NLTP was developed be
maintained and allowed to thrive. Secret, coerced, backroom deals struck based
on fear and threats including withdrawal of access to foreign exchange cannot
be the model for solving a problem of this magnitude.
“That is at the heart of a
growing security crisis and existential dimensions that requires long-term
strategic investment and execution framework by the very nature of livestock
production characteristics. Therefore, CBN should in all sincerity come to the
table and join the all-inclusive reformist efforts underway under the NLTP
rather than reinvent the wheel once again.
“Furthermore, Transforming
Nigeria’s livestock sub-sector from a basic, subsistence low technology,
conflict-stricken status into a world-class, productive, safe and profitable
industry devoid of conflicts requires the involvement of all stakeholders
including the pastoralists and crop farmers.
“There is a pilot project in
Kachia Grazing Reserve in Kaduna State-funded by business innovation facility
(BIF-UK AID) where a small scale dairy value change was set up and all the
community within and around are participating and benefiting which at long run
will resolve crisis between farmers and herders, create jobs for youth and
women.
“Any plan that excludes the
pastoralists and crop farmers, or does not solve what their essential
challenges are falls short of our expectations and support.
“Our main challenges are:
1. To Upscale the pilot project
of Kachia grazing reserve
2. Access to a more stable
availability of pasture and water;
3. Access to land upon which
pasture and water are harnessed;
4. Creation of peaceful
coexistence between them and their crop farmers based on mutual
interdependence;
5. Access to capacity development
for the pastoralists and crop farmers around the grazing reserves to enable
them to modernise their current system of livestock production through pilot
ranch modelling demonstration; and
6. Access to a secure environment
for their families with all the necessary education, health and other
public-provided amenities necessary for the development of a modern,
heterogeneous, prosperous and peaceful communities.
7. Livestock diseases control and
management.
“Nigeria is today at a critical
crossroads regarding how to restructure and transform its livestock industry. A
restructured industry will produce milk, cheese, dairy supplements and a range
of other products that make up a well-functioning dairy and beef cluster. Such
a transformed livestock economy will create hundreds of thousands of direct and
indirect jobs from extension workers to ranchers to suppliers of forage to
veterinarians etc. This industry estimated to be worth over a trillion Naira in
market value, can by 2028 serve Nigeria and the broader African market given
the emerging opportunities engendered by the new Free Trade Agreement across
Africa.
“In view of this, The new
National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP) 2019-2028 approved by the
National Economic Council (NEC) and supported by a deep network of
stakeholders’ consultations across the country is the right framework for
delivering on this vision. Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria
(MACBAN) participated extensively in the dialogue leading up to the development
of the strategy and endorsed its final form enthusiastically.”
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