FG to import grass seedlings not grass- Min. of Agriculture, Ogbeh clarifies

Following news making the rounds last week that the Federal Government was planning to import grasses from Brazil for Nigeria’s livestock, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, has said the FG plans to import grass seedlings not grass.

In a press statement released by the Ministry on Monday, the Minister clarified that the grass seedlings are meant to grow improved species of grass in Nigeria, saying the FG does not plan to import grass wholesale.

“Chief Audu Ogbeh, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, issued a stern clarification of the recent statement making the media rounds that Nigeria plans to import grass to feed cows. This is seriously not true.”

“He made the clarification that Nigeria plans to import seedlings to grow improved varieties of grass of grass in Nigeria. There is no intention to import grass wholesale,” the statement read.

Going further, Ogbeh explained that his office has said countless times, that Nigeria needs improved species of grass, some of which can be found in Brazil and Kenya, both tropical countries sharing many attributes with Nigeria.

According to him, the similarities of climates of these countries with Nigeria, means their grasses will have no difficulty growing in the country.

He also said aside the variety of grass, the country’s livestock also stand the advantage of gaining 28 per cent high crude protein from those grasses.

“The Short to medium term strategy being to improve the grass for cattle consumption, create paddocks to curb and potentially end cattle grazing in light of the series clashes that arise and increase protein content in grass. There is no intention to import grass and this is simply poor information. Nigeria will import grass seedlings for growing in Nigeria,” he said.

Last week, news that the Federal Government was importing grasses from Brazil for Nigeria’s livestock was rife on Social media.

According to the reports, the FG in its bid to revamp the agricultural sector, was planning to import high valued grasses from Brazil that will be given to Nigerian cows which will make them grow well and also increase their yield. This was widely condemned by many Nigerians including Senator Ben Murray-Bruce.