By Akinnodi Francis, Ondo

Stakeholders in the livestock sector have advocated for increased investment in pasture development and the revitalisation of grazing reserves across the country, as part of measures to tackle the lingering farmer-herder crisis and boost livestock production.

They also stressed the urgent need to finalise and implement the National Animal Feed Policy Document to address the growing challenges confronting the sector.

In separate interviews with Weekend Hope, the stakeholders maintained that without strategic investment in fodder and feed systems, efforts to boost food security and resolve herder-farmer clashes would remain a mirage.

Speaking on behalf of the President of the Nigerian Food and Fodder Multi-Sector Platform, Prof. Ari Maikano, an official of the group based in Ondo, Mr. Adeyemi Emmanuel, said a detailed assessment from the valley regions to the savannah zones revealed the existence of various types of pasture, shrubs, and fodder resources in the country.

According to him, “These reflect our diverse agro-ecological zones. Nigeria is blessed with rich fodder resources that require further development.

“Some countries have sourced their fodder from Nigeria and integrated it into their national agricultural assets.

“Interestingly, we currently have a situation where some areas have abundant fodder production, while others have high utilisation rates.

“One of the strengths of the fodder sector is the potential for robust business-to-business relationships.”

He, however, stressed the importance of private sector funding in addressing the pressing needs of the livestock industry, pointing out that the sector can no longer afford to rely solely on government support.

“It is essential that the sector attracts significant private sector investment. Encouragingly, we are beginning to see data-driven interventions, which are crucial for the growth and development of the sector.

“Historically, the focus has been on feed, but we are now recognising that fodder is a major constraint in Nigeria’s livestock-agriculture system, and it must be prioritised,” he added.

Emmanuel identified inadequate engagement with the fodder sub-sector as a major factor fueling the country’s security challenges, particularly the recurring conflicts between farmers and herders over access to feed resources.

He also revealed that private sector participation was one of the core themes of the proposed policy document, describing it as a key strategy to reposition the sector for optimal performance.

Corroborating his position, a livestock specialist, Mr. Dada Babatunde, said the livestock sector plays a critical role in national food security, rural livelihoods, and the diversification of the economy.

He noted that animal feed and fodder form the foundation of any sustainable livestock production system.

According to him, “The sector continues to face major challenges, including inadequate feed and fodder supply, poor quality control, weak regulatory frameworks, and limited private sector engagement.

“These gaps have hampered productivity, profitability, and resilience across our livestock value chains.

“This policy document provides a comprehensive framework for enhancing feed and fodder production, attracting investment, supporting research and development, ensuring quality standards, and improving stakeholder coordination.”

Babatunde further emphasised the need for a structured policy that encompasses all aspects of feed and fodder production, supply, market access, and investment, saying it was essential to drive the national herd to a projected 398.9 million heads.