Uplifting Household Incomes: The Potential of Sheep and Goat Farming in Nigeria

Strategic Insights -

As Nigeria continues to develop its agricultural sector, sheep and goat farming is emerging as a business with significant potential for uplifting household incomes, especially for youth and small-scale farmers. According to Abdullateef Ahmed, President of the National Sheep and Goat Development Association of Nigeria (NASHGODAN), the livestock sector can become a strong contributor to job creation and national food security if properly supported.

Key Takeaways:

  • The National Sheep and Goat Development Association of Nigeria (NASHGODAN) is encouraging young people to go into sheep and goat farming through education and capacity building, training them in modern farming techniques, introducing them to financial institutions for loans and grants, and helping them access markets and value-added processing opportunities.
  • The association maintains a comprehensive, state-by-state database that includes records of all sheep and goat farmers, capturing essential details such as farmers' contact numbers, email addresses, and locations within each state.
  • Nigeria has more than 33 percent of the ruminant population in West Africa, with the North West region holding the highest concentration of ruminants, including 52.42 percent of cattle, 34.95 percent of goats, and 58.76 percent of sheep.
  • The demand for meat, wool, milk, and leather is on the rise globally, presenting significant export opportunities for Nigeria's small ruminant sector.
  • Despite these efforts, farmers across the country continue to face several challenges, including inadequate housing for livestock, poor nutrition, high rates of disease, limited access to markets, double taxation, and low levels of formal education among rural farmers.
  • The main breeds of sheep in Nigeria include Balami, Uda, West African Dwarf sheep, and Yankasa, while the three major goat species are the Sahel goat, the Sokoto Red goat, and the West African Dwarf goat.
  • Start-up farmers like Fatima Tomsu in Katsina State face challenges such as finding land, building adequate housing for livestock, and managing conflicts between older and younger goats.
  • Experienced farmers like Aliyu Abdullahi in Kano State also face challenges, including feeding large numbers of livestock and managing disease threats.
  • The association believes that with proper support from the government, many of these problems can be addressed, including providing financial assistance, training, and infrastructure, investing in research and development, and setting up regulations and standards to organize and support the business.
  • However, the lack of funding is a significant setback, with the association revealing that it has not received any financial support from the government, banks, or donor institutions, with the last opportunity they were hopeful for during the time of former Central Bank Governor, Mr. Emefiele, ending in disappointment.

Statistics:

  • Nigeria has more than 33 percent of the ruminant population in West Africa.
  • The country's ruminant resource is estimated at 20,585,000 cattle, 47,926,000 sheep, and 84,039,000 goats.
  • The North West region holds the highest concentration of ruminants, with 52.42 percent of cattle, 34.95 percent of goats, and 58.76 percent of sheep.
  • 1,500 goats and sheep are slaughtered daily in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with varying numbers in other states.
  • Small ruminant farmers in Nigeria, such as Fatima Tomsu, purchase goats at different prices, including ?70,000, ?60,000, ?40,000, and ?150,000, depending on their size and breed.

Sources:

  • Daily Trust
  • The Nigerian Journal of Animal Production
  • Fatima Tomsu, a start-up sheep and goat farmer in Katsina State
  • Aliyu Abdullahi, a sheep and goat farmer from Kano State
  • Abdullateef Ahmed, President of the National Sheep and Goat Development Association of Nigeria (NASHGODAN)