The Federal Government of Nigeria has unveiled plans to pilot national communal ranches in six states—Adamawa, Benue, Kaduna, Kano, Plateau, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)—as part of a broader strategy to modernize livestock farming, enhance productivity, and address climate challenges.
The announcement was made during a meeting between the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, and the ILRI-GATES Livestock Feed and Nutrition Project Team. According to the press release, the initiative will prioritize climate-smart feeding systems, transitioning herders from high-fibre to protein-rich, climate-resilient feeds.
To support the communal ranches, the government plans large-scale fodder production using solar-powered irrigation, micro earth dams, and improved grazing reserves. The ILRI-GATES collaboration is expected to provide technical expertise, enhance livestock nutrition, and guide implementation of sustainable practices.
The federal government highlighted that the initiative aims to:
- Strengthen food security
- Increase milk and meat production
- Create jobs in rural areas
- Promote sustainable livestock management
This move follows previous livestock reforms, including the controversial 2019 RUGA initiative and the 2025 partnership with Brazilian firm JBJ Brazil to establish a 100,000-hectare cattle ranch in Niger State. Experts view communal ranches as a solution to reducing farmer-herder conflicts, especially in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, where drought and desertification have intensified competition for grazing land.
The pilot ranches are part of President Bola Tinubu’s broader livestock modernization agenda, linking animal husbandry with climate action and economic opportunities in rural communities. The project also reflects lessons from past initiatives, combining ranching with regulated open grazing to foster stability and productivity.
