THE Federal Government through the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is not in any way relenting in its effort to find a permanent solution to the menace called herdsmen/farmers clashes which has claimed hundreds of lives all over the country.

One of such moves was a one-day field day for cattle farmers on cassava innovation themed:Cassava peel and leaf as an alternative feed resource for cattle for improved beef and dairy production.

The programme which held at Ef & Ef Farms, Kelebe, Oyo, drew livestock farmers and experts from various parts of Oyo State and its environs according to the Managing Director, Real People Concept, Mr Tunmise Olagbaju, was aimed at giving tutelage to cattle farmers on how to use cassava peels and leaves as feed, was also targeted at putting an end to the persistent herdsmen/farmers clashes.

Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development in Oyo State, Oyewole Oyewumi, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr Victor Atilola, called on the farmers to stop blaming the government for all inadequacies. He appreciated Ef & Ef Afarms for its support, while also commending Synergos for its effort aimed at reducing the tension between farmers and herdsmen by investing so much in the project. He therefore called on the farmers to make judicious use of what they learn during the programme.

“The project is part of Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development’s effort to end herdsmen/farmers clashes by working on alternative feed resource to feed cattle through cassava peel and leaves.

“The field day was put together by Real People Concept for the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and Synergos, while Synergos funded the cassava innovation project. The project is an innovation on cassava leaf which was added to cattle feed and fed to selected cattle for 16 weeks” Olagbaju stated.

Speaking during the programme, Director, S. Adiss Engineering Limited, Mr Bolaji Segun, informed that his company fabricated all the machines used for the project and that he was ready to make them for anyone even on a lower scale.

In his own remarks, President, National Animal Husbandry and Technology, Mr Akinloye Akingboye  commended the effort of relevant stakeholders in the execution of the project and encourgaed that such initiative should be replicated throughout the country.

He advised that the kind of synergy between the government and the private sector should continue and adequately sustained.

Representative of Synergos at the event, Mr Innocent Yumusa, noted that the company has been working so much with Oyo state government in making the project a reality. He said the project delights Synergos so much that it gives a positive result and shows what Synergos stands for. He said he hopes sooner or later another engagement which would bring together the government and the private sector to form a better policy would come up before the end of the month.

While speaking on the topic:Cassava peel and leaf as an alternative feed resource for improved beef and cattle production, one of the facilitators at the event, Mr …. Junaid, said cassava is abundant in Nigeria because about 50 million tonnes is produced in Nigeria per year which makes her rank as the number one producer of cassava in the world.

“The leaves and peels are waste, the crude protein of cassava leaf is between 20% and 43%. It is said scientifically that if a feed ingredient crude protein level is up to 20% such feed ingredient is considered as a protein feed.”

He also informed the farmers that there are two means of testing feed samples which are:Invitro and invivo testing; the process adopted by animal scientists is the invitro testing. He said 16 cattle were used for the testing and the level of inclusion of the cassava peel was 50% while that of cassava leaf range from 0% to 10, 20, 30 and 40 percent while respective remainder in each category include PKC, wheat offal and premix the feed was given adibitum.

The cattle weighed between the range of 136 and 138 kg before the commencement of the feeding trial. The result of the project gives between 0.5 and 75kg body weight gain. “Zero per cent mortality was recorded. A milk yield of 1.54-2.38 litres was gotten at 10 per cent inclusion of cassava leaf.” He concluded.

Source: tribuneonlineng.com

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