From Cattle To Fish & Poultry: Investment Summit Maps New Agricultural Future For Delta

By PAULINA NZERUBE

Agriculture Emerges as a Strategic Investment Frontier

AGRICULTURE emerged as one of the strongest pillars of Delta State’s economic diversification agenda at the Delta State Economic and Investment Summit 2026, with local and international investors calling for large-scale investments across livestock, poultry, fisheries and agro-processing to drive industrialisation, strengthen food security and create sustainable employment.

Two presentations at the summit underscored the state’s vast agricultural potential while highlighting persistent structural gaps that continue to limit productivity. Together, they presented a roadmap that places Delta at the centre of a broader ambition to become one of Nigeria’s leading agribusiness destinations.

Brazilian agribusiness investor Roberto Fonseca Janete da Fonseca announced plans to invest across Delta’s cattle and beef value chain, while veteran poultry entrepreneur High Chief Eta Enahoro urged the state government to prioritise fish and poultry production as catalysts for rapid economic transformation.

Brazilian Partnership Targets Modern Livestock Industry

Fonseca told participants that discussions initiated during Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s investment mission to Brazil last year laid the foundation for his delegation’s visit to Delta.

According to him, Brazil’s transformation into one of the world’s largest beef-producing nations offers practical lessons that can be adapted to Nigeria.

He argued that Nigeria possesses climatic conditions comparable to Brazil’s but has yet to maximise its livestock potential due to insufficient investment in modern production systems and value-chain infrastructure.

Drawing comparisons between both countries, Fonseca noted that Brazil maintains approximately 200 million cattle for a population of similar size, while Nigeria has an estimated 20 million cattle serving nearly the same population base.

He maintained that improving breeding programmes, genetics, animal health and production efficiency would significantly increase local output while reducing dependence on imports.

Building the Entire Beef Value Chain

Rather than focusing solely on cattle production, the Brazilian investor proposed an integrated investment model covering every stage of the livestock industry.

He said Delta should develop modern ranches alongside slaughterhouses, meat-processing facilities, cold storage infrastructure, refrigerated transportation systems and efficient distribution networks.

According to him, building a complete value chain would lower production costs, improve product quality, create thousands of direct and indirect jobs and make beef more affordable for Nigerian consumers.

Fonseca also pointed to Nigeria’s relatively low per capita beef consumption—estimated at about six kilograms annually compared to roughly 30 kilograms in Brazil—as evidence of significant untapped market potential.

He expressed readiness to partner with the Delta State Government through joint ventures capable of supporting domestic consumption while positioning Nigeria as a future exporter to neighbouring West African countries.

Fish & Poultry Offer Immediate Economic Opportunities

Complementing the livestock proposals, High Chief Eta Enahoro argued that fish farming and poultry production represent the fastest routes to employment generation and rural economic development.

Speaking from decades of experience in commercial poultry farming, Enahoro described both sectors as underdeveloped despite Delta’s natural advantages.

He said strategic investments in fish and poultry could rapidly reduce unemployment while creating profitable business opportunities for young entrepreneurs.

According to him, many youths would earn sustainable incomes through agribusiness rather than depending on government appointments or political patronage.

Reducing Dependence on External Supply

Enahoro expressed concern over Delta’s heavy reliance on poultry meat and fish imported from other states, particularly Oyo State.

He disclosed that approximately 90 per cent of poultry meat and fish consumed in Delta currently originate from Ibadan, describing the situation as both economically unsustainable and a missed opportunity for local producers.

He argued that strengthening local production would retain billions of naira within the state’s economy while stimulating investments across feed production, hatcheries, fish hatcheries, veterinary services, processing plants and distribution networks.

The former Poultry Association of Nigeria official also called for improved public confidence in locally produced day-old chicks through stronger quality assurance and technical support for farmers.

Strengthening Agricultural Governance

Enahoro urged the state government to deepen collaboration with established commercial farmers and credible investors instead of relying on fragmented interventions.

He recommended conducting a comprehensive census of agribusiness operators to identify genuine producers and ensure government support reaches active participants capable of expanding production.

He also lamented that despite operating one of the largest agricultural investments in Isoko, government officials had rarely visited the facility to assess its contribution or understand its operational challenges.

According to him, stronger engagement between policymakers and commercial producers would produce more effective agricultural policies and improve investment outcomes.

Investment, Food Security & Economic Diversification

Although both speakers focused on different agricultural sectors, their recommendations converged around a common objective: transforming Delta into a competitive agribusiness economy driven by private investment, modern technology and integrated value chains.

Their proposals align closely with Governor Oborevwori’s broader economic diversification strategy, which seeks to reduce dependence on oil revenues while expanding investment in productive sectors capable of generating employment and inclusive growth.

The summit demonstrated that agriculture is increasingly being viewed not merely as a traditional rural activity but as a strategic industrial sector capable of attracting international capital, boosting exports, strengthening food security and accelerating Delta State’s long-term economic transformation.