SPRiNG Unveils Findings on Farming, Pastoral Practices in Nigeria

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

The Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria (SPRiNG) Programme has unveiled its findings from its studies on farming and pastoral practices in Nigeria.

The workshop held recently in Abuja was aimed at disseminating and validating its recent study on stock routes and grazing reserves in Nigeria.

The initiative funded by the UK was also aimed at promoting peace and stability in Nigeria’s North-West and North-Central regions.

The workshop had government officials, civil society leaders, farmers and pastoral associations, and international development partners in attendance to review and validate the studies’ findings and recommendations to enhance the productivity of agriculture and livestock production and promote peaceful coexistence between farmers and pastoralists.

According to a statement issued Thursday, participants critically engaged with the findings from three interconnected studies on farming practices, pastoral practices and the state of grazing reserves and stock routes.

These studies, it noted, uncovered overlapping challenges, including degradation of grazing infrastructure, encroachment on stock routes, weak land governance, and exclusion of pastoralist and farming communities in decision-making processes.

It added: “The Pastoral Study highlighted how insecurity, mobility restrictions, and inadequate access to grazing lands and social services undermine livestock production, deprive pastoral groups of livelihoods and fuel marginalization among pastoral communities.

“The Farmer Study underscored the struggles faced by smallholder farmers from increasing conflict with herders to land tenure insecurity, climate-related pressures, and declining yields.

“It showed that farming practices have not taken advantage of climate smart innovations despite demographic changes.

“With the country producing less food, there is growing food security challenges and the need to cultivate more land is contributing to conflict between farmers and herders.

“The Grazing Reserves, Stock Routes, and Pastoral Resources study revealed that most grazing reserves are non-functional, poorly demarcated, or overtaken by farming and human settlements. Many stock routes are unrecognised or blocked.”

The statement added that essential water points and veterinary services have deteriorated, while institutional overlaps and limited coordination across federal and state levels have negatively impacted on land and natural resource management.

Speaking at the event, Head of Governance and Stability Block, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office-BHC, Mr. William Robson, said they would work jointly to improve capability, accountability, and inclusivity of security actors and conflict resolution mechanisms for Nigerian security.

“And together we’ll tackle the challenges of serious organised crime, cyber threats, terrorism, irregular migration, while reducing the cycle of contracted humanitarian crises,” he said.

Also, the Secretary General of a Pan-African pastoralists organisation, the Confederation of Traditional Livestock Breeders Organisation (CORET), Mohammed Tukur emphasised the role of traditional rulers in sustaining peace in communities:

“Traditional leaders should have a defined role in justice administration and be empowered to operate without undue interference. To truly promote peace, we must speak truthfully to the government and ensure they understand the realities on the ground,” he noted.

On her part, Assistant Chief Scientific Officer, Nigeria Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), Mrs. Blessing Nwadike called on government and security agencies to harness space technology to address security challenges in the country.

In his submission, the Team Leader of the SPRiNG Programme, Dr. Ukoha Ukiwo, said they believed that within the state sector, there are key actors who are already driving change, and this study has clearly shown that.

“Whether at the state or federal level, some institutions are taking new approaches to reform. Our hope is that the research we’ve produced will serve as a valuable contribution to those ongoing efforts,” he added

SPRiNG is a four-year initiative (2024-2028) funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). It aims to enhance institutional capacity for conflict management and response, boost public confidence in key institutions, and create greater incentives for peace.