Bauchi Moves to Boost Livestock Economy with Training on Pasture Business Models

By Uzairu Dauda Bunga:

The Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (L-PRES) Project, Bauchi State Coordination Office, in collaboration with LAPA’AM Animal World, has organized a three-day training workshop on “Business Models for Pasture Development” aimed at enhancing the commercialization of livestock production in the state.

Declaring the workshop open, the State Commissioner for Livestock Development, Dr. Bala Musa Lukshi, represented by the State Coordinator of the L-PRES Project, Alhaji Musa Adamu One, said the training aligns with Component 3 of the L-PRES Project, which focuses on improving animal feed sources across the state.

Dr. Lukshi announced that the project will establish 60 hectares of land for pasture development across Bauchi State to help mitigate recurring conflicts between herders and farmers.

He also revealed plans to construct 32 solar-powered boreholes to ease water scarcity challenges faced by pastoralists.

He urged participants to make the most of the training by applying the knowledge and skills gained to achieve the objectives of the initiative.

In a related development, Alhaji Musa Adamu One disclosed that L-PRES has also organized another three day capacity building session for abattoir and cattle market managers on waste-to-wealth conversion, focusing on the production of organic manure from livestock waste.

According to him, about 200 beneficiaries drawn from 20 local government areas of Bauchi State were selected to represent their communities in both modern pasture farming and abattoir waste management training programs.

Presenting a paper on Range Management Business Models for Pasture Production, Alhaji Mahmud Ibrahim Bello emphasized that livestock productivity largely depends on access to quality pasture.

Ibrahim Bello, noted that many American farmers became wealthy through pasture farming, urging participants to adopt similar modern techniques for improved yields and profitability.

He added that commercial rangeland management requires careful planning and implementation to ensure that the benefits of its use outweigh the cost of management and maintenance.

Also speaking, Dr. Hauwa Caleb, representing LAPA’AM Animal World, expressed optimism that participants would begin to see pasture farming as a profitable venture rather than a wasteful practice.

She commended L-PRES for the initiative, describing it as a timely effort that would boost the local economy, empower women, and reduce farmer-herder conflicts in the state.

Dr Caleb added that, with a small plot of land, even women can cultivate pasture within their homes and sell to cattle rearers for income generation.

Some participants who spoke with reporters expressed their enthusiasm to put their newly acquired knowledge into practice.

They also appealed to the Bauchi State Government and the L-PRES Project team to sustain their support through continuous training and empowerment programs for stakeholders in the livestock sector.