FG Picks 5 States, FCT For Pilot National Ranching Programme

The federal government has selected Benue, Plateau, Nasarawa, Kaduna and Adamawa States, as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), for the pilot implementation of its national ranching policy.

Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, disclosed this on Thursday, after briefing President Bola Tinubu in Abuja, on the federal government’s plans to transform livestock production and address challenges associated with open grazing.

Maiha said the pilot phase of the programme would commence at the Wase Grazing Reserve in Plateau State, where the government intends to test its new ranching model.

Under the initiative, pastoralists will be encouraged to raise their livestock in designated ranching locations rather than moving cattle across long distances in search of pasture and water.

The federal government is also engaging pastoral organisations as part of efforts to ensure a smooth transition from traditional grazing practices to modern ranching.

According to the minister, the programme will promote fodder cultivation and improve access to livestock feed, with the ultimate goal of boosting productivity and reducing conflicts between farmers and herders.

Beyond addressing farmer-herder clashes, the national ranching policy is expected to strengthen livestock management, curb cattle rustling and support the development of a comprehensive national livestock database.

The government is also expanding veterinary services and investing in dairy production, modern abattoirs and fodder development as part of a broader plan to reposition Nigeria’s livestock sector.

Maiha said seven model veterinary clinics have already been established, while plans are underway to ensure that every state in the country has at least one model veterinary hospital.

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The pilot ranching programme is expected to provide a framework for the nationwide implementation of the federal government’s livestock development strategy as Nigeria seeks to modernise the sector, improve food security and unlock its economic potential.