Nigerian state unveils modern cattle ranch to bolster livestock farming

NIGERIA – Borno State has set a precedent in modern livestock farming by launching its pioneering cattle ranch and resettlement centre, known as RUGA. 

This groundbreaking initiative, developed in partnership with Nigeria’s federal government, represents a bold step toward revitalising the livestock industry while addressing the challenges displaced and marginalised communities face.  

Governor Babagana Zulum spearheaded this transformative project, unveiling the first of three proposed centres strategically designed to integrate sustainable livestock farming with comprehensive community development. 

Within Borno’s expansive grazing reserves, each centre is equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure, including housing estates, schools, health clinics, and veterinary services. 

These facilities aim to uplift herding communities, providing them with the tools for self-sufficiency and economic growth.  

The Livestock Ranching Centre in the Ngarannam area, the first of its kind in Nigeria, has already begun transforming lives. 

With 461 households in the insurgency-affected Ngarannam area receiving livestock and essential relief packages, the initiative seeks to restore dignity and hope to families displaced by violence. 

Maryama Abuwar, a beneficiary, expressed her gratitude, stating, “After losing everything, I thought I’d never provide for my children again. Today, I have the means to rebuild my life.”  

Deputy Governor Umar Usman Kadadur emphasised the initiative’s multifaceted approach. The project includes the construction of 360 houses funded by the state government and 101 additional homes supported by the federal government.

All-inclusive community centers

Each centre is designed to improve housing, foster peaceful coexistence, and provide access to quality education and healthcare. Including veterinary centres ensures livestock health and productivity, a cornerstone of the region’s economy.  

The state government has allocated over 1.5 billion Naira for advanced breeding technologies to enhance agricultural productivity, including artificial insemination and embryo transfer centres. 

Pasture development is another vital component, with 200 hectares of rain-fed and 20 hectares of irrigated pasture under management. These efforts aim to improve grazing practices and ensure sustainable livestock farming.  

The ranching centres also include milk collection hubs and dairy upgrading facilities to bolster local dairy production. Solar-powered boreholes and earth dams address water scarcity, ensuring that human and livestock needs are met. 

Additionally, market and security outposts are being established to facilitate commerce and ensure the safety of residents and traders alike.  

Governor Zulum extended an invitation to multinational investors, highlighting Borno’s vast grazing reserves and fertile land as untapped opportunities for livestock growth. 

“Borno has the potential to become an agricultural hub,” he stated, aligning the project with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for modernising Nigeria’s livestock sector.  

The initiative received high praise during its launch, with Professor Attahiru Jega, co-chair of the Presidential Livestock Reform Implementation Committee, delivering a keynote address. 

He described the project as a landmark achievement, lauding Governor Zulum’s vision and commitment to economic development and social progress. 

“This is what good leadership looks like,” Jega remarked, urging stakeholders to ensure the sustainability of such transformative efforts. 

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