NIGERIA MOVES TO COMMERCIALISE PASTURE PRODUCTION TO CURB LIVESTOCK CONFLICTS
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
The Federal Government has unveiled plans to commercialise pasture production in Nigeria as part of a broader effort to resolve long-standing conflicts in the livestock sector, particularly those driven by competition over water and grazing resources.
Speaking at a workshop on sustainable pasture production and management held in Abuja on Wednesday, National Project Coordinator of the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (L-PRES) Project, Sanusi Abubakar, said that addressing pasture and water needs is central to mitigating herder-farmer clashes across the country.
“We want to commercialise pasture. We want to buy feed for cattle, sheep and goats so that we can reduce the radius of movement and by extension the radius of conflict,” Abubakar stated.
The event showcased advanced technologies for pasture development from countries such as Brazil, the Netherlands, and Israel, with Israeli firms demonstrating climate-smart solutions for feed production.
Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukthar Maiha, represented by Ishaq Bello, described the initiative as “forward-thinking and critical to livestock productivity, food security, and peaceful co-existence.”
He stressed the importance of global partnerships, highlighting collaboration with Israeli agencies in deploying drought-resistant and arid-region pasture technologies.
Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, represented by Bukar Usman, said the state was prepared to lead in commercial livestock transformation, citing over 40 grazing reserves and cross-border livestock routes shared with Chad and Cameroon.
“Pasture is my number one priority. Borno is open to investors for commercial pasture production, and the governor is ready to lease or grant certificates of occupancy for grazing reserve investments,” Zulum said.
Ayo Sotinrin, Managing Director of the Bank of Agriculture, noted that the bank would support the transformation with funding, tagging programs, artificial insemination schemes, and feed investments. He projected a 250 per cent rise in demand for animal products by 2035.
Emir of Nasarawa, Jibril Usman, praised the L-PRES initiative but warned of the need for strong market linkages to avoid failures similar to past cassava production schemes. “Producers need assurance that their efforts will yield commercial returns,” he said.
Co-Task Team Lead for L-PRES, Chidozie Anyiro, confirmed World Bank support and funding from the Israeli government, stating that the introduced technologies will allow pasture growth even in drought-prone regions.
“This initiative will not only enhance livestock productivity and reduce farmer-herder clashes, but also create opportunities for Nigerians to treat pasture as a viable business,” Anyiro added.
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