Description
CHAPTER ONE
Introduction
1.1 Background Information
Nigeria, one of the developing countries of the world with rapid
population growth, is faced with the task of providing adequate food for her
citizenry. While food production increased at the rate of 2.5%, food demand
increased at the rate of more than 3.5% due to the high rate of population
growth of 2.83% (F.O. S, 1996).The scenario induced increase in the country’s
food import bills from about #8b in 1996 to over #183b in 2005 (CBN,2005).
Apart from this problem, there is inadequate animal protein in the diets of a
large proportion of the population especially in the rural areas (Ojo, 2003).
Animal protein is essential in human nutrition because of its biological
significance.
In realization of the importance of animal protein, various governments in
Nigeria have inaugurated programmes at the national, state or community levels
to encourage mass production of livestock. Such programmes included the
micro-credit scheme for livestock production and establishment of livestock
parent/foundation stock at the community level by the United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP).