By Stella Odueme
The Federal Government has developed an implementation framework for the National Feed and Fodder Policy to reduce livestock production costs, improve food security and promote peaceful coexistence between farmers and pastoralists.
The Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Mukhtar Maiha, disclosed this on Monday, October 19, 2026, in Abuja, during a three-day stakeholders’ workshop organised to develop the framework.
According to a statement by the Deputy Director, Press and Public Relations Department,Henrietta Okokon on Wednesday, Maiha said adequate, affordable and quality feed and fodder were essential to sustainable livestock development, noting that feed costs accounted for approximately 70 per cent of total livestock production expenses.
He explained that inadequate access to animal feed, coupled with seasonal shortages of pasture and water, continued to constrain livestock production and intensify competition over natural resources, sometimes resulting in conflicts between farmers and pastoralists.
According to him, developing a sustainable feed and fodder value chain would encourage livestock owners to adopt organised production systems, reduce the need for animals to roam in search of pasture and minimise crop destruction and disputes over farmland.
The minister called for a shift from overdependence on unmanaged natural grazing to organised, commercially viable and climate-resilient feed and fodder production systems capable of ensuring year-round availability.
He also urged stakeholders to explore the use of agricultural by-products, particularly rice straw and other crop residues, as alternative livestock feed resources.
Drawing from his experience in livestock farming, Maiha explained that rice straw could be collected, preserved and supplemented with other feed materials to support animal nutrition, particularly during periods of scarcity.
He identified rice-producing communities in Kebbi, Niger, Jigawa and Benue states as areas with significant potential for recovering agricultural residues and converting them into valuable livestock feed instead of allowing them to go to waste or be burnt.
“Nigeria has considerable opportunities to address feed shortages through better resource utilisation, improved storage and preservation methods, fodder cultivation and investment in appropriate technologies,” he said.
Maiha further emphasised the need to strengthen fodder seed production and promote resilient grass varieties suited to the country's different ecological zones.
Earlier, the Director of Ranch and Pastoral Resources Development in the ministry, Dr Hakeem Ibilade, said the workshop was designed to produce a national implementation framework, strategic alignment matrix, roles and responsibilities matrix, resource mobilisation strategy, and monitoring and evaluation framework.
Ibilade said the initiative would address recurring dry-season shortages and establish sustainable interventions to ensure a consistent supply of feed and fodder throughout the year.
He stressed the need to translate the policy into practical action through a cost-effective and results-oriented operational blueprint that aligns environmental, economic and social objectives.
In his goodwill message, the National Coordinator of the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (L-PRES) Project, Dr Sanusi Abubakar, reaffirmed the project's commitment to supporting the policy's implementation.
Abubakar disclosed that all 29 states participating in the L-PRES Project would incorporate the framework into their annual work plans to promote coordinated implementation.
He also announced plans to develop 500 hectares of pastureland for key herders across selected states, adding that future interventions would cover larger areas and promote the effective utilisation of fodder residues.
Similarly, Temi Adegoroye, representing SAHEL Consulting Ltd., pledged the organisation's continued support for the policy's implementation.
Adegoroye said proper planning for the utilisation of fodder seeds and other outputs would help maximise investments, reduce waste and ensure sustainable benefits across the feed and fodder value chain.
The workshop brought together government officials, state representatives, development partners, private-sector operators, technical experts and other stakeholders to develop implementation strategies, define responsibilities and establish monitoring mechanisms for the policy.
The initiative forms part of the Federal Government's efforts to build a productive, resilient and commercially viable livestock sector, strengthen food security and promote sustainable national development.