Federal Government Selects Pilot Areas for Ranching Programme

The Federal Government has selected five states and the Federal Capital Territory for the pilot implementation of its National Ranching Policy.

The Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, disclosed this after briefing President Bola Tinubu on the ministry’s activities at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

The selected states are Benue, Plateau, Nasarawa, Kaduna and Adamawa, alongside the FCT.

Maiha said the pilot programme will begin at the Wase Grazing Reserve in Plateau State, which will serve as a test for the government’s ranching approach.

He said the selected areas have recorded high levels of farmer-herder clashes, making them suitable for testing the new system.

According to the minister, the decline of grazing routes due to farming, urbanisation and infrastructure development has made long-distance cattle movement increasingly difficult.

He said the policy will encourage livestock owners to keep their animals in designated ranches instead of moving them across communities in search of pasture and water.

The government also plans to promote the production of livestock feed within ranching areas, including the use of improved grasses.

Maiha said the ranches will have facilities such as veterinary clinics, schools, healthcare centres, water systems and solar lighting.

He added that the reserves could attract investments in dairy, meat processing, abattoirs and other livestock businesses.

The minister said the ministry has engaged more than 34 pastoral organisations as consultations continue ahead of wider implementation.