Establishment of feed mill factories can defuse herders-farmers conflicts – Atiku

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has observed that the establishment of feed mill factories for a wide range of livestock has the ability to help defuse the conflicts between herders and farmers currently costing too many lives and livelihoods in Nigeria. The Turaki Adamawa spoke, Saturday in Abuja during the ground breaking ceremony of Rico […]

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has observed that the establishment of feed mill factories for a wide range of livestock has the ability to help defuse the conflicts between herders and farmers currently costing too many lives and livelihoods in Nigeria.

The Turaki Adamawa spoke, Saturday in Abuja during the ground breaking ceremony of Rico Gardo, an animal feed factory which will be sited on five hectares of land at Idu Industrial District in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Rico Gado Nutrition Nigeria, which is a private Limited Liability company, was incorporated in 2013 as a joint venture agreement between GeseDerdirabe Holdings of Yola, Adamawa State, owned by Atiku Abubakar and Rico GadoNutracao S.A.

The former Vice President said the first Rico Gardo factory, which was commissioned in January, 2015, in Yola, Adamawa State is already reducing the expanse of land required to feed cattle.

“The Yola mill produces 20 tonnes per hour of carefully balanced and locally sourced quality fodder for a wide range of livestock, including poultry, cattle, goats, and horses…

 “We are also contributing to job creation, technology transfer and progressive change in farming culture. We believe there is a future in farming,” he added.

Atiku Abubakar said the Abuja factory, which is bigger than the Numan plant, is expected to be completed in 32 weeks with an installed initial capacity of 50 tonnes per hour to enable the company serve a wider market as it prepares for building another plant in a third location.

In his welcome address, the Chairman Board of Directors of the company, Alhaji Abubakar Ahmed Song, voiced the readiness to work with the federal government in order to promote its programmes in the livestock sub-sector of the agriculture master plan.

Earlier, the Portuguese Partner to the company, Mr Joaquin Da Silva, said Rico  Gado has great  potential  to  change  the  face  of  livestock  production and  make  positive  impact  on socio-economic  development of Nigeria.