Experts attending the 9th All Africa Conference on Animal Agriculture in Abuja have called on African countries to reduce dependence on imported animal genetic materials and strengthen farm-based training for youths to unlock opportunities in the livestock sector.
They said the continent must prioritise practical education, financing and technology to make agriculture attractive to young people and drive economic growth.
A member of the Presidential Livestock Implementation Committee, Professor Demo Kalla, said Nigerian youths represent the country’s greatest asset and must be harnessed through productive opportunities in livestock.
“Our youthful population is our greatest asset, but it is, on the other hand, a keg of gunpowder waiting to happen to us if we do not harness their creativity, their talents, and their energies and direct them towards productive means,” he said.
Professor Kalla said the livestock sector offers youth opportunities beyond traditional farming, including artificial intelligence, digital platforms, animal tracking, agribusiness, processing, logistics and engineering.
“This conference was designed to bring the youth together to think of animal agriculture not only as a means of livelihood but also as a gold mine that has not been tapped. It is a multi-trillion-dollar economy that is awaiting being unfolded,” he stated.
He also stressed the importance of animal-source foods like milk, meat and eggs to Nigeria’s nutritional security.
Another panelist from Ghana, Professor Kawu Domako, said African governments must introduce agriculture at the basic education level and create youth-focused financing schemes with grants and affordable loans.
“We need to create a conducive environment to let agriculture become attractive to young people. It can be a small grant, but as they start and they succeed, we can give them a top-up grant,” he said.
Professor Domako noted that many young farmers rely on personal savings because they lack collateral and access to credit, while the absence of guaranteed markets also exposes them to financial risks.
He added that despite abundant fertile land, Africa still imports basic food commodities and must prioritise food production and support for young agri-entrepreneurs.
The 4-day conference brought together stakeholders across Africa to discuss strategies for transforming animal agriculture into a competitive and youth-driven sector.