There is no doubt that ponmo, hide and skin, is a popular delicacy in Nigeria, but if you are among the regular consumers, then you need to read this.
First is that the high appetite for ponmo is costing Nigeria costing Nigeria at least N23 billion annually and depriving the country of approximately 700,000 jobs.
But besides this, there are also health risks associated with such an appetite, warning from the Minister of Livestock Development, Mukhtar Maiha, has asserted.
Maiha gave the warning at the ministerial briefing in Abuja on Friday.
He said the challenge with ponmo is the method deployed in processed t, adding that it could lead to cancer.
He has thus warned Nigerians against continued consumption of hides and skin.
On the positive side however, he said ambitious plan was on ground to expand Nigeria’s livestock market from its current $32 billion to $74 billion by 2035.
Diligent implementation of such a plan, he further informed, would see the sector’s contributions to the national economy rising.
READ ALSO: Nigeria, he added was already a key player in both domestic and international markets alongside Brazil, Argentina, and the United States.
Boosting livestock production, Improving animal health, Enhancing food security, Promoting inclusivity in the sector and Strengthening governance and regulations remain the ministry’s key objectives, he said.
Already, he said, the country has forged strategic partnerships with international investors, agencies, and diplomatic missions to secure technical expertise, financing, and investment in the livestock industry.
Partner countries include Brazil, China, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Mexico, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
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