By Samuel
The National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI), Zaria is partnering with relevant companies within the value chain to enhance donkey rearing in the country.
The collaboration would see to the establishment of ranches in Toro, Bauchi State, and Ebonyi.
The Institute’s Executive Director, Prof. Abdullahi Mohammed, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, last weekend.
He said the collaboration will improve livestock farming in general and put an end to farmers/herders clashes across the country.
According to him, the value chain is expected to generate about two billion dollars annually for the country.
He said the Institute signed a pact with Earthwheel Logistics Limited and other partners sometime in February to breed over two million donkeys in Nigeria in the next five to 10 years.
“The National Council of Agriculture during its meeting in Sokoto observed that the number of donkeys in Nigeria was depleting.
“Subsequently, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development declared donkeys as an endangered species due to high haulage of the animal from north to the south-eastern part of the country for consumption and export.
“Another reason why the number of donkeys is depleting at such alarming rate is because donkey skins are being used for traditional medicine in Asia,” he said.
On donkey extinction, Mohammed noted that the institute has already established donkey preservation and reproduction unit.
He added that the Institute, as part of its contribution to the partnership, has cultivated a large pasture field for the donkeys.
“We used our farm machinery to cultivate a large pasture field around Damau area in Kubau Local Government.
“This partnership is aimed at ending farmers/herdsmen crises in the region,” Mohammed said.