The Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, has said grazing reserves are not merely patches of land, but hubs of opportunity for pasture and crop production, breed improvement, animal health, youth employment, women empowerment, and environmental stewardship.
In his address, at the inaugural National Pasture Planting Day held at the Kawu Grazing Reserve, Bwari Area Council, FCT, on Tuesday 12th August 2025, the Minister described the event as more than a symbolic planting of grass—it marks a bold national step toward revitalizing Nigeria’s grazing reserves and modernizing its livestock sector.
Speaking to a gathering that included traditional rulers, herders’ associations, development partners, and government officials, Maiha emphasized the critical role of pasture development in ensuring food security, reducing farmer-herder conflicts, and boosting rural livelihoods.
“Our grazing reserves are not merely patches of land,” he said, “but hubs of opportunity—for pasture and crop production, breed improvement, animal health, youth employment, women empowerment, and environmental stewardship.”
The Minister outlined key components of the Federal Government’s renewed livestock strategy, including the release of eight new pasture varieties into the national seed system, training programs for herders and extension officers, establishment of strategic pasture seed banks, and the adoption of irrigation and water harvesting techniques.
Maiha called for a collaborative approach involving state and local governments, private investors, pastoral communities, traditional institutions, and development partners.
He reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to the National Livestock Acceleration Growth Strategy (NL-GAS) and urged all stakeholders to support the transformation of grazing reserves into functional, peaceful, and productive ecosystems.
“As we plant these grasses today,” he concluded, “let it mark the beginning of a new era where our livestock sector becomes a source of harmony, jobs, and prosperity.”
The ceremony was attended by key players in the livestock value chain and was widely seen as a strong policy push for sustainable and climate-smart animal husbandry in Nigeria.
