From Okwe Obi, Abuja
The federal government has taken a major step towards addressing the recurring clashes between farmers and herders by partnering countries like Brazil, Israel and the Netherlands to introduce new technologies for pasture production and management in Nigeria.
The initiative, which aims to reduce open grazing and conflicts tied to it, was unveiled during a two-day workshop in Abuja. The move comes amid growing concerns over the loss of lives, livelihoods, and food security due to ongoing disputes between pastoralists and farming communities.
The National Coordinator of the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES), Sanusi Abubakar, said the programme is focused on finding practical solutions to two major triggers of conflict: water and pasture.
“So we are organizing this very important pasture workshop because in livestock we have two drivers of conflict, water and pasture. So we are handling the pasture. What we are doing, we are looking at technologies to improve the pasture production,” he explained.
He noted that several countries had approached Nigeria to showcase how their pasture technology works. “We have different countries that have approached us as a project. They want to showcase their own technologies in this country to see how they can move it, like Brazil, Israel and the Netherlands,” he said.
At the workshop, Israel was the first to present its innovation to 20 Nigerian states. Abubakar said the goal is to help livestock farmers adopt modern methods to grow and manage pasture, the same way poultry farmers buy feed for their birds.
“We want to commercialize pasture. Like you used to go and buy feeds for poultry. We want to buy feeds for cattle and sheep and goat so that you can reduce the radius of conflict,” he said.
Abubakar also praised the current administration for creating the Ministry of Livestock Development. “Yes, you know, I have to appreciate the current federal government, the government of President Bola Tinubu for even creating the Ministry of Livestock because it is a step in the right direction,” he said.
According to him, the key to reducing herder-farmer conflicts lies in limiting how far pastoralists need to travel in search of water and grass. “If you address these two, you are addressing the drivers of conflict. You reduce the radius of movement of the pastoralists. If you reduce the radius, you are reducing the conflict. So that is what we are doing and there’s a seriousness,” he added.
Also speaking at the event, Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhar Maiha, emphasized the need for Nigeria to revisit past livestock projects and strengthen partnerships to move the sector forward.
Represented by his Special Adviser on Livestock Enterprise, Isiaq Bello, the Minister said: “There was a strong relationship between the implementers of the National Livestock Project Division and the former Nigeria Agricultural Cooperative Bank.
“During that time, this pastoral project was financed by the project, funds were domiciled with the Bank of Agriculture in all aspect of livestock value chain. We had the cattle factory, sheep factory and so.”
He called for renewed collaboration between L-PRES, other agricultural initiatives, and the Bank of Agriculture, which has branches across the country. “I am appealing that we bring back those implementation and collaboration between L-PRES, other projects and the Bank of Agriculture,” he said.
Maiha also urged banks to make loans more accessible to farmers by reducing interest rates. “On behalf of the farmers, we are requesting for low interest loans less than 10 percent, single digits,” he said.
He stressed that managing livestock in a sustainable way isn’t just about farming — it’s about protecting the environment, ensuring peace, and boosting the economy.
“The pursuit of sustainable pastoral management is not merely an agricultural undertaking, it is part of environmental stewardship, social stability and economic resilience.
“This workshop underscores the importance of global partnerships including collaboration between esteemed institutions and government agencies to harness climate smart technology and digital innovation.
“The involvement of our local and international stakeholders like farmers, researchers, policy makers and development partners reinforces our shared commitment to transform the sector,” he said.
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