The Ekiti State Government has begun training livestock farmers from the 16 local government areas of the state on pasture production for cattle, aiming to reduce farmers/herders clashes.

The government stated that the pasture business has the potential to create sustainable jobs for unemployed youths in areas such as establishment, zero grazing (cut and carry), hay and silage making, as well as the preservation and storage of hay, among others.

The Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Ebenezer Boluwade, spoke on Thursday at a training on business models for pasture development organised by the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (L-PRES) in Ado-Ekiti.

According to him, to mitigate the herders’ menace and create economic opportunities from the threats, “it is high time to strategically create business models for pasture development suitable to meet the needs of herders and cattle owners in our Local Government Areas.”
“I strongly believe that this training will expose our participants to business opportunities in the area of pasture production and development that are yet to be explored; these include conversion of idle lands to viable forage lands for grasses and legumes, storage of excess grasses grown during the raining season for use during the off season to bridge the nutritional inadequacies gap experienced during the off season, learn various methods of processing forages for optimal use by our livestock as well as different storage techniques.”

In his remarks on the occasion, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Ebenezer Babatope, stated that the agricultural sector is the cornerstone of the nation’s economy, providing livelihoods and sustenance to a large part of the population.
“However, it faces numerous uncontrolled challenges which include: grazing of arable crops by ruminant animals due to farmers/herders clashes, disruption in the feed supply chain due to scarcity of forages in grazing, most especially during the dry season.”
“This has led to a perennial multifaceted approach. It is not just about clashes between two groups; it is about the off-season. The farmer-herder conflict is a complex challenge that requires an understanding of the underlying issues, which include competition for resources among other factors.
“Across the nation, we have seen the impact of the conflicts firsthand, which has led to devastating consequences such as loss of lives, displacement, and economic instability. These challenges stress the livestock production systems, impacting animal health, feed availability, water resources and food security, making it essential to consider business opportunities in pasture production,” he said.

Additionally, the Project Coordinator of Ekiti L-PRES, Mr Adeyinka Adedipe, stated that as a means of involving herders, they have been enlisted as trainees.
“We have the herders as part of the trainees here. We believe that with this training on the production of pastures, there will be less friction, and there will be a new relationship between farmers and herders,” Adedipe said.

In his address, the Lead Consultant, Mr Hakeem Ajeigbe, said that agriculture in the 21st century is different from the way it was before, saying that the Nigerian population is about 300 million with the same land available for a smaller population than before.
“We are using more land for housing because of our population. It means we must intensify, and if so, we must modernise. The most important aspect that carries 70 per cent of livestock is the production of feed. The cattle can’t roam about and get the feed for free; there must be ranches.
“However, our own ranches must be indigenous and not the kind you find in South America or Argentina. Even with just one to two hectares, we can feed a lot of cattle. It is similar to producing maize and rice. We plant improved varieties of grass and legumes. This will help resolve the conflicts between farmers and herders that we are witnessing today.
“But more importantly, is the area of job creation and improving livelihood. We are training them on how to plant, process, store and market the feeds. Employment to be generated will be in thousands, if not millions,” he said.