The Federal Government has decried poor production of hides and skin across the country as the practice has negatively impacted leather industry and economy at large.
This was asserted by the Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria, and also Director, Federal Department of Veterinary Services, Dr. Gideon Bwala, who was represented by an officer in the department, Dr. Samuel Anzaku, at a sensitisation workshop for butchers on practice of hides and skin preservation techniques and use of industrial salt at Karu abattoir in Abuja.
The sensitisation was in collaboration with the FCT Agric Secretariat, where butchers were drawn from Kubwa, Deidei, Gwagwalada and Karu abattoirs, and practical steps for production and preservation of hides and skin.
“This is a programme that had started under the Growth Enhancement Scheme, GES, but not in Abuja, and this is the first one we are having in the FCT. We have observed that the hides and skin generated here are not really converted into economic but mostly being used for meat and kpomo and that is why we have decided to come for this intervention.
We are running two trainings concurrently; on improved flaying method for hides and skin production, and the second is a practical demonstration of the use of industrial salt for preservation of hides and skin.
The sensitisation and training of butchers is because hides and skin is one of the greatest economic potentials but have not really contributed to the GDP, and is traceable to lack of awareness, and this training will improve the economic benefits of butchers and buyers of hides and skin.
Dr Regina Adulugba, director veterinary services, FCT, the training is significant and the butchers has had challenge in using common salt to preserve leather, and the use of common salt does not last up to a month, but the industrial salt introduced to butchers in the FCT preserves hides and skin for over three months. It will help the hides and skin sub-sector. The salt is not for human consumption but is for hides and skin preservation.
However, the butchers also expressed appreciation for the timely sensitisation and the introduction of the industrial salt to enable them produce value added hides and skin, and also apply the proper way of flaring animals at the abattoir.
