The Federal Government has selected Benue, Plateau, Nasarawa, Kaduna and Adamawa states, alongside the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), for the pilot implementation of its National Ranching Policy.
The Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Maiha, disclosed this after briefing President Bola Tinubu in Abuja on the progress of the Federal Government’s livestock development programme.
Maiha said the pilot phase would commence at the Wase Grazing Reserve in Plateau State, where the government intends to test its new ranching model before expanding the initiative to other parts of the country.
Under the programme, pastoralists are expected to keep their livestock within designated locations rather than move over long distances in search of pasture and water.
The minister said the government was engaging pastoralist organisations and other relevant stakeholders as part of efforts to ensure a smooth transition from open grazing to ranching.
He added that the Federal Government was also promoting fodder cultivation to provide adequate feed for livestock and reduce pressure on available grazing resources.
According to him, the ranching initiative is part of broader measures to address farmer-herder conflicts, improve livestock production and strengthen the management of the country’s livestock sector.
The programme is also expected to help combat cattle rustling, improve livestock management practices and facilitate the creation of a comprehensive national livestock database.
Maiha said the Federal Government was simultaneously expanding veterinary services, dairy development, modern abattoirs and fodder production as part of efforts to modernise the livestock industry.
He disclosed that seven model veterinary clinics had already been established, while plans were underway to establish at least one model veterinary hospital in every state of the federation.
The minister said the combined measures would strengthen animal health services, improve productivity and create a more organised livestock value chain.
The pilot ranching programme is expected to serve as a test case for the Federal Government’s broader plan to transition livestock production towards a more structured and sustainable system nationwide.