Thursday, 1st July 2021: The Provost, Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, (FCAH&PT), Moor Plantation, Ibadan, Nigeria, Dr. Adekoya Olatunde Owosibo has described pig farming as ‘gold mine’ in animal business..

Speaking at the opening of the just concluded two-day training on “Hands on Profitable Pig Business in today’s World” organised by the school of short term training of the College, Dr Owosibo said pig is one of the largest livestock in the world, probably after poultry noting that “Whenever you want to do animal business that would make you rich quick, think about piggery.”

Represented by the Deputy Provost, Academics of the College, Dr Isaac Olusegun Ayodeji, FCAH&PT’s Chief Executive Officer said although farming is not an easy job with its own attendant challenges but assured the participants that once knowledgeable about piggery and follow the rules, they are bound to make it in pig production and farming.

He noted that farming is not an easy job, it has its own challenges but once you are knowledgeable and follow the rules, you would make it big, in pig production.

According to him, “It (Pig farming) is an industry that you can even start making and counting your gains within two months of commencement. Many years ago, I discovered that there is not enough pork in Nigeria, any time of the year; you have market for pig meat. Their feeding is easy as pigs are not selective in feeding, pigs feeds on anything.”

In an exclusive interview with CEOAFRICA, a veterinarian with the College, Dr Oladapo Agbato said the main goal of the training is to improve and actualize the aim and objectives of President Muhammadu Buhari on diversifying the nation’s economy.

“The President is serious on the need to diversify Nigeria’s economy to agriculture and especially farming as well as to also boost the income of the country. Some of those we are training may end up having their own farm or work for other farms and if we do not train people to own and run farms, how would they be able to exist and employ our graduates?

“After poultry, today in Africa, pig is the next animal farming that is common in Africa. There are many pig farmers out there who does not know what to do and more so just last year, the Africa swine fever affected so many pig farms, it led to so many famers losing their stocks, several of them are looking for the way out, we are doing this training to impact on the pig farmers’ community.

“If anybody start pig farming today, give him/her two years, the return on investment is massive, if you do the right thing. You are certain of high productivity. The southern part of the country eats more of pork than beef. There is even a place in Benue that pig is part of the items for the bridal loads. The training also involved marketing strategies and how to package the business.

“The need for protein is one of the reasons why people should patronize pork meat and pig is high in provision of protein to the body. The benefits of pork meat are numerous.”

One of the participants, a farmer from East Africa who plans to establish a branch in Edo State, Nigeria, ‘Ambassador’ Mathew Biki Nwaifor, commended the College for organizing the training which he said “was so impactful.”

“To be frank, I am excited, the training has been so wonderful and what took me three years to learn in Tanzania, I just learnt within 45 minutes during this training.

“I have been doing pig farming in East Africa and most Nigerians visiting my farms in the East African countries have been advising me to come and invest in Nigeria, and with the coming of Governor Godwin Obaseki in Edo state coming on stream with his programmes encouraging investments in Edo state, I am in the process of establishing a big farm in Edo state.

“In life, you have to learn, unlearn and re-learn, that is how to make success of your life.”

Nwaifor said pig farming is very lucrative, if it is done very correctly. “China is the number one nation right now in this business turn over from pig now, as at 2019, China did a turnover export business of over $9 90 billion followed by the US  that did over $987 billion. I am saying billion dollars. When you take that to Nigeria’s GDP, you know what it would look like. Other African countries have keyed in, like South Africa, Uganda, Kenya, and I think it can create a lot of jobs for our youths and it can also help to generate protein in our food, and would also solve this Fulani herdsmen problem,” he explained.

The Chairman, Pig Farmers Association of Oyo State, Oladejo Segun Caleb, a farmer of over 22 years confessed that the packaging of the short term training is very new to the pig farmers stating that “this one is practical and classical and we are enjoying it.”

He said pig farming is highly lucrative, stressing that the best animal business is pig. He added that “Research shows that globally, 60 percent of meat consumed is pork while all the other animals shared 40 percent, so going to pig business is it as there is no dull moment.”  

The two-day training featured lectures on “Overview of pig business” by Dr Agbato where he emphasized that land is the biggest investment in the pig business and plain topography is required and better for massive productivity.
Mrs Azua handled “Profitable pig business in today’s world” where she stated that there is no wastage of anything in pig business even their excrete is bought as manure. She counseled the participants to take time in through selection of pig to breed and feeding. She gave them several hints to guide them on selection of pigs for breeding and then advised them to think big but start small while venturing on pig farming.

The interactive session on artificial insemination in pig farming was handled by an international expert on pig farming and insemination, Mr Olagbaju Tunmise, who took time to educate the participants on the processes and when it would yield the desired results.

Other topics treated during the training included pig husbandry, strict biosecurity for profitable pig farming and slaughtering of pigs.

The participants were conducted round the facilities for effective and productive pig farming within the College. It was tagged ‘Bora field mill trip’ and rounded off with the presentation of certificates to the participants.