Plateau farmers seek better security, support for increased production

Nigeria

Farmers in Plateau State have called on the State and federal government to provide adequate security and support to boost production and economic output for the country.

The farmers requested this at a three-day capacity-building training on improved pasture development, organised by Palm Frontiers Ltd in partnership with the Plateau State Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (L-PRES).

With the training focused on building farmers’ capacity to run profitable, climate-smart pasture enterprises that can strengthen the livestock value chain, a farmer at the training Mrs Talatu Bawal stated that significant government support was necessary to overcome the farmers’ challenges.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Chief Executive of Palm Frontiers, Dr. David Albert, said the training was conceived to close long-standing knowledge gaps that have slowed agricultural progress across Africa.

He explained that despite the continent’s abundant land and favourable climate, productivity remains low largely due to limited technical know-how.

According to him, quality feed is the foundation of modern livestock production, and pasture development must be treated as a viable business capable of boosting yields and household income.

He added that the training was designed to teach farmers how to grow nutritious pasture, choose the right forage varieties, improve soil health, and adopt low-cost fertiliser options at a time when input prices are rising. 

A total of 54 farmers and 27 members of the Project Implementation Unit took part in the sessions.

Animal Husbandry Officer with L-PRES, Emmanuel Nandokol, described feed scarcity as one of the biggest challenges facing Nigeria’s livestock industry.

He said the training encouraged farmers to see pasture beyond subsistence feeding, but also as a business model that could contribute significantly to Plateau State’s livestock development goals.

Associate Professor Hosea Finangwai, a livestock expert, stressed that pasture development offers vast economic opportunities and is essential for building a sustainable livestock sector.

Delivering a paper on global approaches to profitable pasture enterprises, he argued that embracing pasture as a commercial venture could help address recurring tensions between farmers and herders by ensuring reliable feed sources.

Finangwai clarified earlier misconceptions about the National Livestock Transformation Programme (NLTP) in Wase, explaining that the project encountered initial resistance but was not a failure.

He said the current acceptance of modern livestock systems nationwide has encouraged initiatives such as L-PRES to expand training and promote improved pasture cultivation.

Citing research trials that successfully grew alfalfa and other forages in Plateau, he urged farmers to form cooperatives to access funding, machinery, and improved seeds, noting that the State’s temperate climate gives it a competitive edge.