Ranches or Grazing Reserves? Rethinking Nigeria’s Solution to Farmer-Herder Clashes
The disagreement between the Federal Government and states such as Benue and Plateau may stem from the type of cattle project being proposed. Large allocations of land, such as 100,000 hectares, appear closer to grazing reserves than modern ranches. Nigeria needs properly managed cattle ranches that keep livestock in defined spaces and reduce pressure on farmlands. A 1,000-head ranch could operate on a relatively small site if it has a reliable supply of hay and other feed. Rather than expanding open grazing areas, the country could train farmers nationwide to produce hay for commercial ranches. This could reduce farmer-herder clashes, create jobs in feed production, and strengthen Nigeria’s beef and dairy industries.
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