Livestock Transformation Development Plan — Cattle Ranching as the Best Alternative in Nigeria
From time immemorial, agriculture has been the mainstay of Nigerian economy. Livestock farming is a component of agricultural practice and it is a lucrative business. The Fulanis are well known for rearing cattle in large numbers for consumption and commercial purposes. Owing to this, the Fulani cattle farmers move from one location to another in search of pasture for their cattle. This often constitute disruption to farming activities as most crops are used as pasture for the cattle in the course of the movement from place to place.
Against the erroneous impression that it just started, the Fulani herdsmen/farmers conflict has been ongoing spanning decades. Attacks after attack has left thousands dead with a whole lot of economic loss. This has led to low beef production and has affected the entire agricultural value chain. In a report presented by the technical adviser to the National Economic Council (NEC), Andrew Kwasari in June 2018, he pointed out that Nigeria loses N5.04 trillion annually to the herdsmen/farmers conflict in addition to loss of lives, schools, homes, and infrastructure.
A holistic solution which will deal with the problem of encroachment into farmlands and an inclusive plan which will integrate both farmers and herdsmen into modern way of farming and grazing needs to be sought to find a lasting solution to the incessant crisis. The Federal Government is working on a 10 year mediation plan, stemming from recommendations from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the private sector, as well as from the National Economic Council (NEC) being chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo
The Livestock Transformation Development Plan being designed by a sub-committee of NEC is built on six key pillars which cater to economic investment, conflict resolution, law and order, humanitarian relief, information/education and strategic communication, and other cross-cutting issues. For its pilot phase, Adamawa, Benue, Ebonyi, Edo, Kaduna, Nassarawa, Oyo, Plateau, Taraba and Zamfara states will receive interventions in the form of ranches.
In the ranch design plan, there are six pillars that are essential to the success and viability of the ranches: land allocation, ranch size models, feeds and priority breed improvement, access to finance and market, and humanitarian efforts. The plan will create a synergy between Federal and State Governments, as well as the private sector. The funding of the plan from the Federal Government and State governments is expected to last for the first three years in the pilot phase for a total of N70 billion while private sector interests and investment between the third and tenth year is expected to be in excess of N100 billion.
The Land Use Act of 1978 confers the power of land allocation for any purpose to the State and Local Governments. It is within their jurisdiction to allocate land for whatever reason to individuals, associations and even the Federal Government. The act vests all land in the urban areas under the power of the State Government with the land in the rural areas solely the responsibility of the Local Government. The cattle herders are expected to be registered and recognized as cooperatives for the purpose of the proposed ranching scheme. These cooperatives will then be able to enter rental agreements for land use with State Governments and also benefit from on several other terms including loans, grants, and subsidies.
The livestock transformation plan entails each state providing these cattle owners with parcels of land to breed their livestock and produce meat and dairy products. These parcels of land would be turned into ranches for the cattle owners where livestock farming in all its aspects will be carried out and well utilized to the benefit of all the parties involved. The proposed ranch size models, according to the plan, is a cluster of 30, 60, 150 and 300 cows ranch models in a location within the donated reserves, as well as a minimum of 1000 cows breeder ranch in 7 of the 10 Pilot States. A ranch design plan has been proposed in models of various sizes clustered in 94 locations in the 10 States. With each State having a ranch, this would increase the Internal Generated Revenue (IGR) of the State Governments as the funds generated from the ranches would also go into the development of these States.
The idea of ranching is not new as this has been in practice in developed countries like Britain, Argentina, India and USA. These ranches help the farmers maximize the produce from their cattle with the byproducts being marketed and sold to generate revenue and funds for the upkeep of the ranch and to add to the GDP of the nation. The ranches are not gifts or compensation to the cattle farmers but a project that looks into improving and developing livestock farming, taking it past the mediocre way it is being practiced.
The livestock market is huge in Nigeria as the country boasts of a vast majority of meat consuming populace. It is however expedient that a solution is found that would ensure the continuity of this market to cater to the need of the teeming populace. Once these ranches are built and operational, it would ensure that there is availability of adequate and healthy meat in the Nigerian market. As the cost of long distance transportation would be bypassed, the price of meat in the market will become affordable. The ranches would be out fitted with basic amenities that would serve the ranchers like water, adequate pasture, electricity, health (for cattle and farmers) and the access to education.
The ranches would be well equipped to serve a larger purpose than for rearing cattle as it would serve as a community for the cattle owners. On the ranches would be equipment and machinery that would help in meat and dairy production. The diary aspect has not been explored to the fullest in Nigeria as most of the milk and cheese marketed and sold are not locally made but imported into the market. Reason being the average milk yield per cow in Europe is between 40–50 liters per day as compared to the paltry 1–2 liters yield of the Nigerian cow due to poor feeding, poor health and stress on the grazing trails. In a ranching system, a cattle would be able to produce up to 5litres of milk in a day.
The profit in the industry is derived mainly from the dairy products which by some estimates could be in excess of 15,000 USD per milking cow per year. In Nigeria cattle is reared mainly for the beef and minimally for the milk, which takes away the bulk of the profit in the business. Milk production would be concentrated on to contribute substantially to the national economy and at the same time stop the perennial conflicts between herdsmen and farmers in the country.
The ranches would not only focus on the rudiment of ranching and livestock farming, it would also have schools for formal education for herder’s children. These cattle owners does not have formal education, they are mostly literate. The schools on the ranches would offer basic education to the ranchers and their children. Teachers would be deployed to teach the children on subject taught according to the UBE syllabus to improve their literacy and numeracy skills. This would help to familiarize them with reading materials on farming and ranch management which ultimately improves and increases their technical know-how for a better yield.
This solution will improve genetic material of indigenous cattle; provide critical market access infrastructure; and create better linkages between smallholder livestock producers and investors for agricultural technology adoption and support for value addition. Running the ranches might be cost effective as regards building and operation but is an investment towards ensuring the safety and security of both livestock farmers and crop farmers. It would also create more jobs for doctors, builders and marketers which would go a long way in reducing the unemployment rate in the country as qualified Nigerians would be employed. It is time to embrace ranching as the best alternative to marauding cattle rearing in the country and as a lasting solution to the long existing conflict.
