The Lagos State Government says it is partnering with the Maize Farmers’ Association of Nigeria (MAAN) in order to explore the possibilities of maize production in the State. Ms. Abisola Olusanya, the State Commissioner for Agriculture, stated this over the weekend in Lagos when she hosted members of the Maize Farmers Association of Nigeria. The importance of the meeting, she continued, cannot be overstated because of the possibility for silage sourcing as a result of the partnership.
According to Ms. Olusanya, MAAN will plant around 167,000 hectares of maize across Nigeria during this year’s agricultural season; with an average crop yield of 5 metric tonnes/hectare, there is a possibility for about 835,000 metric tonnes of silage to be available for the State’s feedlots.
She said, “Silage is a very cheap and affordable source of feed for livestock in the State particularly cows and the need for collaboration with the Maize Farmers Association of Nigeria is coming on the heels of her visit to the Igbodu Feedlot in Epe, the Commissioner opined.”
Ms. Olusanya disclosed their meeting with the officials of the Maize Farmers Association of Nigeria(MAAN), which was to discuss prospective collaborations to assist the state produce its own maize, which would be a key source of cow feed production.
Speaking more on the partnership, she said that the program particularly excites her since it is in accordance with the State’s 5-Year Agricultural Roadmap, notably the red meat value chain transformation. As you are aware, the state is building feedlots and fattening facilities in collaboration with interested investors to aid in the traceability and hygiene of cattle before they are slaughtered for human consumption she explained. “This meeting is a follow-up of the visit to the Igbodu Feedlot, Epe and to explore the opportunities available for the sourcing of silage from the Maize Farmers Association of Nigeria, she said.
“I have been told that for this year’s farming season, MAAN will be planting about 167,000 hectares of maize across Nigeria and with an average crop output of 5metric tonnes/hectare, there is a potential for the production of about 835,000 metric tonnes of silage which could be available for the use of the Feedlots in the State,” she disclosed.
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