The Federal Government of Nigeria announced that the pilot implementation of the National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP) has kicked off in at least four states including Nasarawa, Plateau, Kaduna and Adamawa.
Dr. Andrew Kwasari, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Agriculture, said this in an exclusive interview in Abuja. He explained that the Federal Government has started developing pilot ranches in grazing reserves in the aforementioned states.
He revealed that state of the art water systems are already in place in these states, with pastoralists and non-pastoralists working in three grazing reserves in Awe (Nasarawa), Wase (Plateau) and Gogoni (Adamawa). He also said pastures have been planted too.
Dr. Kwasari was optimistic that by next rainy season, the herdsmen will have settled in these places and will not have to move their herds of cattle from one place to another.
When asked why only four states were selected for the pilot project, Kwasari explained that they were selected to demonstrate to Nigerians that this can be done, adding that other states will follow suit sooner or later.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Agriculture, concluded by expressing his strong belief that the next administration in Nigeria will continue with the implementation of the 10-year plan, adding that the plan was approved by the National Economic Council (NEC) chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
