The Federal Government has selected Kwara State as the pilot location for the implementation of Nigeria’s national ranching policy aimed at modernising livestock production, boosting productivity and addressing recurring farmers-herders conflicts.
The Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, disclosed this during a high-level stakeholders’ engagement held in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.
Maiha said the initiative is designed to reposition the livestock sector for sustainable growth, job creation and improved food security, while also reducing tensions between farmers and pastoralists through structured ranching and feedlot systems.
He urged Nigerians to discard the belief that ranching requires huge capital investment, noting that small-scale livestock farming can grow into viable businesses.
“Forget the idea that you can’t do ranching. Start with two goats, cows, sheep, or pigs; they reproduce. Think of fodder production. It’s just growing grass, and there are huge opportunities in that value chain,” he said.
The minister added that global demand for animal feed and livestock products presents significant economic opportunities for Nigeria, particularly for states like Kwara with vast arable land.
According to him, discussions have commenced with the Kwara State Government on establishing feedlots and other infrastructure that will enable livestock farmers to operate within structured and productive systems.
“We are going to show that nomadic people can be settled, infrastructure can be built for them to remain in one place, improve productivity and address farmers-herders conflicts. Kwara State will be the pilot for this programme,” Maiha said.
He explained that the ranching policy will promote value addition across the livestock sector, including fodder production, poultry development and honey processing, while encouraging technology-driven farming and improved biosecurity.
Maiha also lamented that a significant portion of Nigeria’s livestock and poultry businesses still operate outside the formal sector, stressing the need for reforms to unlock the industry’s full economic potential.
Reacting, Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, represented by the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Afeez Alabi, assured stakeholders of the state government’s readiness to support the initiative.
He described livestock production as a strategic pillar for food security, youth employment and economic growth, adding that the state will continue to invest in training, improved inputs, veterinary services and value-chain development.
Also speaking, the State Commissioner for Livestock Development, Oloruntoyosi Thomas, said the policy would empower young people and reposition agriculture as a viable alternative to white-collar jobs.
She noted that the initiative aims to transform livestock production from a source of conflict to a major driver of economic growth and rural development in the state.
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