Concerned about protein deficiency in the diet of many Nigerian children, the Federal Government has said that it is considering providing three eggs per day for every school child as part of its school feeding programme.
To meet this demand, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Audu Ogbeh, said efforts have been made to increase livestock and diary production in the country.
Speaking at a two-day retreat on Livestock and Diary Development in Nigeria organised by the ministry in collaboration with the African Business Roundtable, the minister stated that when children are denied dairy and protein needs, it affects their mental and physical development.Ogbeh lamented that Nigeria’s milk production is extremely low with about one litre per cow per day compared to Brazil and Saudi Arabia, which produce between 30 to 40 litres per cow in a day. “Saudi Arabia produces 4.7 million litres of milk daily while Nigeria imports about $1.3 million worth of milk annually to make up the deficit.”
The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Country Representative in Nigeria, Dr. Louise Setshwaelo, in her remarks urged the government to provide institution, human resource capacity as well as supporting legal framework to ensure effective implementation of ranching and grazing reserves in the country.
Meanwhile, the Catholic Church has called on the Federal Government to formulate fresh educational policy that can attract the Nigerian child during school sessions.
Such policy, according to the church should clearly articulate social and cultural ideologies that will be result oriented.
No comments:
Post a Comment