Livestock research and development in Nigeria: country note

Abstract

Nigeria occupies a land surface area of 924,000 km2 and has an estimated human population of approximately 86 million. the largest of any country Africa. Most of the population is concentrated in either the far north or the south of the country with the middle region of the country being relatively under-populated. livestock production, which is mainly of a traditional nature, was, until recently, largely concentrated in these northern areas, with resultant overstocking and overgrazin0. t7uch of the under-populated middle region of Nigeria could only be utilized on a limited basis by the livestock sector because of the presence of tsetse. The Federal livestock Department determines the general policy direction of livestock development; administers the overall development programme; implements major development projects; and undertakes applied research and data collection.