The Federal Government is moving to replace long-distance cattle movement with a ranch-based livestock production system, selecting Benue, Plateau, Nasarawa, Kaduna and Adamawa states, as well as the Federal Capital Territory, for the pilot implementation of its National Ranching Policy.
The initiative is aimed at addressing recurring farmer-herder conflicts while transforming livestock production from predominantly pastoral activity into a more organised and commercially viable sector.
The Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, disclosed this on Tuesday after briefing President Bola Tinubu on the activities of his ministry at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Maiha said the Wase Grazing Reserve in Plateau State would serve as the first location for the pilot programme and a proof of concept for the Federal Government’s new ranching model.
He said the selected locations were among areas that had experienced some of the highest incidences of farmer-herder conflicts in recent years.
The minister explained that the policy was driven by the changing realities surrounding cattle movement, particularly the disappearance of traditional grazing routes as a result of agricultural expansion, urbanisation and infrastructure development.
“Our understanding is that large numbers of cattle on the move are crisis-prone because grazing routes have disappeared due to farming, urbanisation and infrastructure development,” Maiha said.
“Nomadism, as we know it, is no longer sustainable and we need a different concept.”
Under the proposed ranching model, pastoralists would keep their animals in designated locations instead of moving cattle over long distances in search of pasture and water.
Maiha said the government planned to develop the designated ranching areas with facilities intended to make them viable communities and livestock production centres.
The planned facilities include housing, veterinary clinics, schools, primary healthcare centres, solar lighting and water infrastructure.
He said the reserves would also be developed into economic hubs capable of attracting private investment in milk processing, modular abattoirs, bio-digesters and other livestock-related businesses.
“Imagine what you are going to have if you have 30,000 herds of cattle in one area. The milk collection alone will attract processors and many other investments,” he said.
The government’s plan therefore goes beyond relocating cattle from open grazing routes, with the ministry seeking to establish an integrated livestock value chain around the ranches.
The selection of the six areas is significant because several of them have experienced prolonged disputes between farmers and herders, often linked to competition over land and water resources.
By encouraging livestock production in designated areas, the Federal Government expects to reduce the movement of cattle through farmlands and settlements and, consequently, limit clashes between farming and pastoral communities.
Maiha said the government was conscious that the policy would require the cooperation of pastoralists and other stakeholders and had therefore intensified consultations before implementation.
He disclosed that the ministry had engaged more than 34 pastoral organisations.
The minister said pastoralist leaders had also been consulted under the leadership of the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, with another engagement expected within two weeks.
The consultations are expected to address concerns among pastoralists and build broader support for the ranching programme.
As part of the livestock reforms, the Federal Government is also implementing a nationwide livestock identification programme using radio frequency technology.
Maiha said livestock would be tagged to enable identification, geolocation and proof of ownership.
The initiative, he said, would provide authorities with better information on livestock ownership and movement while helping to combat cattle rustling and recover missing animals.
It is also expected to contribute to the development of a comprehensive national livestock database.
The identification system could provide greater traceability within the livestock industry and support efforts to improve animal health and disease control.
Maiha said the ranching model would also encourage the cultivation of fodder specifically for livestock rather than relying primarily on natural grazing.
He explained that improved grass varieties with the required nutritional value could be cultivated within ranching communities.
“Today, we go and fetch the grass and bring it where the animals are. Better still, grow the grass where the animals are,” the minister said.
“There are genetically developed grasses with all the nutritional value required to feed livestock.”
The approach is intended to provide more reliable access to animal feed throughout the year and reduce the pressure that drives cattle movement in search of pasture
The ministry is also promoting dairy development, commercial fodder cultivation, modern abattoirs, veterinary services and poultry production as part of its broader livestock transformation programme.
Maiha disclosed that seven model veterinary clinics had been established, with plans to establish at least one model veterinary hospital in every state.
He added that the government was strengthening vaccine storage facilities and encouraging investment across the dairy and red meat value chains.
The Federal Government is seeking to increase domestic livestock productivity and attract private-sector investment in processing, while reducing losses associated with poor animal health, inadequate infrastructure and inefficient production systems.
Maiha said about 20 states had established livestock ministries or agencies, describing the development as an indication of growing acceptance of the Federal Government’s livestock development agenda.
He commended President Tinubu for his support for the sector and said the administration was determined to unlock the economic opportunities available in livestock production.
Quoting the President, Maiha said, “The value chains in the livestock sector are fantastic,” urging Nigerians to take advantage of opportunities across the industry.
The ranching initiative is expected to use the selected locations as pilot areas from which the Federal Government can assess the viability of its proposed model before considering wider implementation.
The success of the programme will depend largely on the government’s ability to provide land, water, veterinary and social infrastructure, secure the ranching communities, gain the cooperation of pastoralists and ensure that the policy delivers economic benefits to livestock producers.
For the Federal Government, the broader objective is to move Nigeria’s livestock sector away from a predominantly extensive and mobile production system towards organised ranching, improved animal productivity and stronger commercial value chains.
