Livestock Minister endorses ranch model, announces partnership with Nasarawa Farm

The Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, has declared ranching a viable and scalable model for Nigeria’s livestock sector.

He made this statement during an inspection tour of Manchong Integrated Farms Limited in Nasarawa State.

After touring the facility, the Minister praised the farm as a practical example of modern livestock production, highlighting its successful management of feed, fodder, and animal genetics.

He noted that despite the dry season, the farm maintained lush pastures through irrigation from a natural stream.

Minister Mukhtar pointed to the farm as definitive proof that ranching—confining animals with adequate feed, water, and care—is workable in Nigeria.

The farm sustains over 300 cattle and produces surplus fodder, even supplying states like Jigawa and Yobe.

The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development will partner with the farm on fodder seed production and genetic improvement programs.

The Minister announced that Manchong Farms will serve as a pilot breeding center, where new genetic materials will be introduced and multiplied for distribution across Nigeria.

Farm owner Yakubu Dogara commended the Minister’s hands-on approach.

He explained that the farm was established to demonstrate that ranching is a practical solution to farmer-herder conflicts and can drive economic growth. Dogara emphasized the livestock sector’s vast potential, noting that capturing just 5-10% of the global dairy and beef market could bring Nigeria about $25 billion annually.

Clinton Agbo, a livestock partner to the Botswana Embassy, described the farm as an excellent site for international collaboration, noting interest from the Botswana High Commissioner in supporting it as a Pan-African pilot scheme.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled:  Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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