Livestock Farmers Urge FG Action on Climate Change Impact

Livestock farmers and stakeholders have called on the Federal Government to address the growing impact of climate change on Nigeria’s livestock sector. They said extreme weather, drought and rising feed costs are reducing productivity and affecting the meat supply chain. They warned that the situation could threaten food security if urgent action is not taken.

The call was made at the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Stakeholders’ Engagement Plan Validation Workshop in Akure, Ondo State. The workshop was organised by Ondo L-PRES in partnership with the Federal Government, Ondo State Government, Global Peace Development and the World Bank. It was attended by government representatives, livestock producers, crop farmers and private sector stakeholders.

Participants said climate change has created new challenges for livestock production and reduced animal performance under dry conditions. The Executive Director of Global Peace Development, Ebruke Onajite Esike, called for climate-smart strategies to support farmers and herders. He suggested investment in water storage systems to support farming and grazing activities.

Esike said the workshop was organised to strengthen outcomes from an earlier stakeholders’ roundtable held in Akure on February 4. He said information gathered from the discussions and field surveys would guide future interventions. He also called for the development of structured resting points for herders to reduce conflicts.

The Chairman of the Poultry Farmers Association of Nigeria in the state, Fadipe Olawande, said climate change is increasing production costs and reducing poultry output. He called for improved access to affordable feed and climate-resilient farming methods. The State Programme Coordinator of L-PRES, Olufemi Adeogun, said the project has improved animal health across the 18 local government areas.

The Ondo State Commissioner for Agriculture and Forestry, Olaleye Akinola, said the engagement was timely. He said sustainable livestock development requires peace and cooperation among stakeholders.