The federal government yesterday called for a law against sale and widespread consumption of hides and skins (ponmo), saying that livestock farmers stand good chances of making high dollar return if the hides and skins are tanned into leather.
Minister of agriculture and rural development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina who made the declaration in Ibadan, at the 3rd Joint Anniversary of Animal Science Association of Nigeria (ASAN) and Nigeria Institute of Animal Science (NIAS), commended NIAS for its advocacy and public enlightenment programmes on radio and television that promote value addition in livestock, as against sale and consumption of primary products alone, particularly on the issue of curtailing the widespread consumption of hides and skins.
According to him, hides and skins ought to be tanned into leather for a very high dollar return to the farmer and tanneries.
The minister who was represented at the occasion by the director in charge of animal production and husbandry in the ministry, Dr. Ademola Raji, expressed optimism that the National Assembly will accelerate the work to amend the Nigerian Institute of Animal Science Act, so as to make provisions for enforcement of its major mandates that are designed to drive value addition to increase the provision of wholesome livestock products.
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