ABUJA, June 25 (MENA) - Nigeria's Federal Government has unveiled the National Strategy and Action Plan (NSAP) on Animal Genetic Resources (AnGR) management for the effective conservation, utilization, and development of the nation’s livestock sector.

Speaking at the official launch ceremony of the strategy in Abuja, Nigerian Minister of Livestock Development Idi Maiha said the NSAP represents a major milestone in the country’s history, the News Agency of Nigeria reported on Wednesday.

He said the strategy was developed under the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES) and aligns with international directives.

Maiha noted that the document reaffirms Nigeria’s commitment to the Interlaken Declaration of 2007, adopted by 106 countries, including Nigeria, and developed at the first International Technical Conference on Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture held in Switzerland.

“The declaration recognizes the role of animal genetic diversity in ensuring food security, improving human nutrition, and supporting rural development.

“It affirms the shared and individual responsibilities of governments to conserve, sustainably utilize, and further develop AnGR.

“It also calls attention to significant capacity gaps at national and international levels and urges coordinated action, including increased funding and institutional support,” he said.

Maiha pointed out to the significance of the Global Plan of Action (GPA) for AnGR.

“The GPA outlines 23 strategic priorities for action grouped into characterization, inventory and monitoring of trends and associated risks, sustainable use and development, conservation, policies, institutions, and capacity building.

“These priority areas provide the framework for effective development, utilization and both in vivo or live population and in vitro or gene banks conservation of animal genetic resources,” the minister said.

He added that implementing the strategy would contribute to reversing the ongoing loss of livestock biodiversity and conserving at-risk breeds vital to Nigeria’s food systems. (MENA)

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