Plateau Farmers Get Fresh Boost as Training Revives Modern Pasture Production

Plateau’s livestock sector is gaining fresh momentum as farmers across the state receive hands-on training in modern pasture production, a move expected to reshape how animals are fed and how livestock businesses grow. The three-day programme, organised by Palm Frontiers Ltd. in collaboration with the World Bank–supported L-PRES project, is designed to help farmers build profitable, climate-smart pasture enterprises that can boost productivity and stabilise the value chain.

Speaking during the training, Palm Frontiers Chief Executive Dr. David Albert said the initiative aims to close long-standing knowledge gaps that have slowed Africa’s agricultural progress. He noted that without quality feed, livestock cannot thrive, stressing that pasture development should be treated as a serious business capable of transforming both nutrition and income for farming households.

Dr. Albert told participants that Africa’s advantage lies in its land and climate, but the missing link has always been technical know-how. He said the training focuses on practical skills—ranging from selecting the right planting materials to restoring degraded soils and using affordable fertiliser alternatives—especially crucial as production costs continue to rise. A total of 54 farmers and 27 members of the Project Implementation Unit took part.

L-PRES Plateau Animal Husbandry Officer, Emmanuel Nandokol, highlighted the long-running challenge of feed scarcity in Nigeria’s livestock sector. He described the programme as a turning point that encourages farmers to see pasture not just as feed but as a lucrative enterprise, urging them to apply the lessons immediately to support ongoing reforms in the state’s livestock industry.

Livestock expert and Associate Professor Hosea Finangwai also underscored the vast opportunities in pasture development, reminding participants that the goal was not academic theory but building sustainable enterprises. He argued that adopting pasture as a business model could help ease tensions between farmers and herders by providing structured, reliable feed sources.

Finangwai addressed misconceptions about the National Livestock Transformation Programme in Wase, explaining that the project struggled mainly due to early resistance and inadequate sensitisation, not failure. He showcased successful trials of alfalfa and other forage crops grown through research funding and encouraged farmers to form clusters to access financing, machinery and exotic seed varieties. Plateau’s favourable climate, he added, gives the state a strong edge in forage cultivation.