Lagos State eats an estimated N328 billion worth of cow meat per annum.
About 98 per cent of cattle consumed in-state are from the northern part of the country or from across the border.
The remaining 2 per cent is a shortfall in local production and represents about 181,757 tons of meat or about 1,235,601 heads of cattle per annum.
These were made known on Monday in Lagos by the Permanent Secretary in the state’s Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs Ibironke Emokpae.
She represented the commissioner, Ms Abisola Olusanya, at a cattle feedlot screening for 36 investors.
She noted that the feedlot screening was necessary because the transactional value of cattle traded in Lagos State was huge.
She added that when the red meat transformation agenda comes fully into play it would help the state government to eliminate the logistics costs of transporting cattle.
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Emokpae emphasised also that the cattle feedlots initiative would bridge the demand and supply gap and prevent food crises in the state.
The feedlot represents an intensive production system with the goal of growing and fattening cattle until they reach slaughter weight.
“The partnership with private investors will prevent food crisis associated with ethno-religious crisis, cattle rustling, and zoonotic diseases and encourage animal traceability.
“The state embarked on the Cattle Feedlot Systems partnership to evolve a model that will bring in investors who are fully ready technically, administratively and financially to kick-start the project.
“I should bring to your remembrance that Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration which is keen on making our agricultural sector viable and sustainable decided to change the face of the agriculture and food system in the state.
“The governor made this possible through the Ministry of Agriculture’s five-year roadmap where he established linkages, collaborations and strategic partnerships with organisations,’’ she said. (NAN)
