Tunji Adeyonfo
This might not come as good news to most
Nigerians as indication have emerged on
Tuesday that the federal government may have
concluded plans to ban the sale and
consumption of hides and skins known locally
in Nigeria as ponmo so as to boost the growth
of the livestock industry.
This much the Minister of Agriculture and Rural
Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina revealed
at the 3rd joint anniversary of Animal Science
Association of Nigeria (ASAN) and Nigeria
Institute of Animal Science held at the
University of Ibadan. He therefore called for
competent regulations that would check the
consumption and sale of the product.
The theme of the programme was entitled,
“Value Addition in the Nigerian Livestock
Industry: A strategy for Economic Growth and
Stakeholders Empowerment”.
If this is achieved, the minister noted that
livestock farmers would stand good chances of
making high dollar return if the hides and skins
are tanned into leather.
The minister who was represented at the
occasion by the Director, Animal Production
and Husbandry in the Ministry, Dr. Ademola
Raji, said, ”I also commend NIAS for its
advocacy and public enlightenment programs
on Radio and Television that promote value
addition in Livestock, as against sale and
consumption of primary products alone,
particularly with the issue of curtailing the
widespread consumption of hides and skins as
Kpomo which ought to be tanned into leather
for a very high dollar return to the farmer and
Tanneries.
I expect that competent regulations acceptable
by all stakeholders will be developed so as to
give credibility that our set standards for food
safety are being implemented which will boost
value addition.”
He said,”I am confident that the satisfactory
production levels achieved in the poultry and
swine segments will soon stretch to reach other
commodities such as beef, dairy, micro
livestock and animal by products such as
leather, bones, hides and skins.
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