Stakeholders in the Nigerian livestock production sector warned the Federal Government to exercise caution over its plan to establish cattle ranches in all 774 local government areas.
They feared that the move could trigger a fresh crisis and worsen the existing challenges in the sector.
The stakeholders argued that livestock farmers, mostly from specific ethnic groups, may face difficulties owning land outside their home states, potentially sparking controversy.
This concern was echoed by Dr. Femi Oladunni, Executive Director of the Agricultural Management and Rural Training Institute (ARMTI), who noted that land ownership in Nigeria is still a contentious issue.
His words: “Though lands belong to the state governments, but land ownership in Nigeria is still very controversial.
“The question is – are the landowners ready to release their land to the livestock farmers who are not citizens of their area?”
Despite these concerns, the National President of the National Agricultural Mechanisation Cooperative of Nigeria (NAMCON), Dr. Aliyu Waziri, remained optimistic about the project.
He believed that the ranches will be fully equipped for both rainy and dry season farming activities, boosting food security, creating jobs, and reducing poverty.
“These ranches will be fully equipped for both rainy and dry season farming activities for the sustained production of food,” Dr. Waziri said.
“This is crucial to boosting food security in the country, jobs creation, poverty eradication and jerking off Nigeria’s foreign reserves.”
However, other stakeholders, like Mr. Bosoye Olalere, Executive Chairman of Ajogbe Holdings, were urging caution.
They recommended conducting thorough research before embarking on the project to avoid wasting resources.
“It doesn’t sound like a good business proposal, because there are several local councils that are ill-suited for the specific needs of a ranch.
“If they can set up ranches in a quarter of the 774 local councils, based on proven business feasibility, they’d possibly achieve more in creating a sustainable beef cattle business,” Mr Olalere said.