22 July 2013

1 minute read

Africa

He announced this message at the inaugural meeting of the Nigerian Agribusiness group at which he outlined advances in the industry, according to Claudia Saumell, Africa Manager of Bord Bia – Irish Food Board.

As part of the Government’s effort to ensure that investors in the sector enjoy the benefits of their investments, the minister gave assurances that the federal government was set to grant concessions for modernisation of abattoirs, provide incentives for integrated facilities as well as modernise wholesale and retail outlets.

Other incentives will be offered through the facilitation of breed and genetics improvements, enforcement of strict health and safety standards and the formation of industry bodies for industry coordination.

The minister also pointed out that other policies would encourage the import of live cattle to improve the quality of breeding stock, which could open up business opportunities for Irish livestock exporters.

New Zealand and the UK have exported some dairy cattle. The animals were exported by air.

Bord Bia representatives recently met with Dr. G. M. Mshelbwala MCVSN, Federal Department of Livestock & Pest Control Services who corroborated these developments. Mr Mshelbwala also pointed out that other measures could possibly enourage semen importation to improve the cattle herd.