The Federal Government yesterday reiterated its commitment to transforming Nigeria’s livestock sector through sustainable pasture cultivation, describing it as the bedrock of improved animal nutrition, higher productivity, and peaceful co-existence between herders and farmers.
Speaking at the inaugural National Pasture Planting Day held at the Kawu Grazing Reserve, Bwari Area Council, FCT, the Honourable Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, noted that pasture cultivation is a strategic intervention to secure the future of livestock production in the country.
A statement signed by Ben Bem Goong
Director, Press and Public Relations Department and made available to newsmen reads that “The National Pasture Planting Day is a vital part of our renewed strategy to modernize livestock production in Nigeria. ”
As we gather on this fertile land in Kawu, we are reminded of the urgent need to shift to more sustainable and productive models for pasture and fodder that benefit both pastoralists and farmers, while also safeguarding our environment,” the Minister stated.
He described grazing reserves, such as the one in Kawu, as “hubs of opportunity” for pasture and crop production, breed improvement, veterinary health services, conflict mitigation, youth employment, women empowerment through organized milk production, and food security.
The Kawu community, comprising 36 villages and covering about 9,000 hectares, is expected to benefit significantly from this initiative.
Mukhtar further disclosed that through the National Pasture Development Programme, the Ministry has recorded significant milestones this year, including the release and registration of eight new pasture varieties into Nigeria’s national seed system.
Other ongoing interventions include training of herders and extension officers, establishment of strategic pasture seed banks and feedlots, installation of irrigation and water harvesting systems, and robust research partnerships with universities, the National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI), and international agencies to develop high-yielding, drought-tolerant pasture species.
In a goodwill message, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, represented by the Minister of State, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud Bunkure, pledged his administration’s commitment to providing essential infrastructure in Kawu, noting that modernising the grazing reserve would create jobs and boost meat and milk production.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Chinyere Ijeoma Akujobi, represented by the Director of Ranch and Pastoral Resources Development, Mr. Shekamang Ayuba, said pasture planting would not only improve feed availability but also promote environmental restoration, reduce conflicts, and support the livelihoods of livestock farmers.
Goodwill messages were also delivered by representatives of SAHEL Consulting Agriculture and Nutrition Ltd., the National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI), pastoralist associations and cooperatives, who pledged their support for the initiative, describing it as a step towards modernising livestock production in the country.
The event featured the symbolic planting of pasture seedlings by both Ministers, in the view of officials of the Ministry, community leaders, and livestock farmers.
