By Aaior K. Comfort
Abuja — The Presidential Livestock Reform Committee has proposed a hybrid solution to the farmer-herder crisis, suggesting a blend of ranching and open grazing.

Prof. Attahiru Jega, Co-chairman of the committee, announced the recommendation following the submission of a 152-page inception report on Thursday. The committee’s proposal aims to balance traditional pastoral practices with modern livestock management strategies.

Jega emphasized that an immediate switch to exclusive ranching is impractical given the large population still engaged in traditional pastoralism. Instead, the committee advocates for an interim approach that integrates both ranching and open grazing while working towards long-term goals of intensive livestock production.

“We cannot abruptly shift to ranching without considering the existing extensive pastoral system. The proposed solution is a combination of both methods,” Jega explained. “Our goal is to transition to intensive livestock production gradually, with a recommended 10-year implementation timeline for these incremental changes.”

The committee also recommended the establishment of a Federal Ministry of Livestock Development to oversee these reforms and ensure effective implementation.

Mrs. Winnie Lai-Solarin, National Project Coordinator for the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project, highlighted Nigeria’s substantial livestock population, citing recent data that reveals 563 million poultry, 600 million sheep, 124 million goats, 58 million cattle, and 16 million pigs. Lai-Solarin emphasized the investment potential in the sector, noting that poultry alone represents over N1.7 trillion in potential investment.

“The current system rears about 85 percent of ruminants extensively. We aim to gradually shift this towards more intensive methods, akin to the poultry sector where 31 percent of production is intensive,” Lai-Solarin said.

The reform committee’s recommendations come as part of a broader strategy to address Nigeria’s long-standing farmer-herder conflicts, which have claimed over 60,000 lives since 2001. The ongoing crisis, exacerbated by desert encroachment, has driven nomadic herders southward, intensifying competition for resources.

President Tinubu has supported these reforms, which aim to enhance agricultural productivity and create opportunities across the livestock value chain for farmers, herders, processors, and distributors.