Youths urged to embrace sheep, goat farming

The National President of the National Sheep and Goat Development Association of Nigeria, Abdullateef Ahmed, has urged Nigerian youths, including those in paid employment, to embrace sheep and goat farming as a viable agribusiness capable of creating wealth, generating jobs and boosting national development.

Ahmed made the call on Wednesday at the association’s annual conference held in Bauchi, themed: “Small Ruminants for National Prosperity: Advancing Sheep and Goat Development for Food Security, Job Creation and Economic Diversification.”

Speaking at the event, he said the sheep and goat value chain offers enormous economic opportunities that remain largely untapped despite its contribution to food security and rural livelihoods.

He encouraged young Nigerians not to wait until retirement before venturing into livestock farming.

He said, “To our youth and those in service who are yet to retire, don’t wait till you retire. I encourage you to embrace sheep and goat farming not merely as a traditional occupation but as a modern agribusiness capable of generating wealth, creating jobs and contributing to national development.”

Ahmed described the industry as one of the most accessible and profitable agricultural enterprises for rural households, women, youths and retirees, noting that it provides income, employment, nutrition and economic resilience for millions of Nigerians.

However, he identified disease outbreaks, inadequate breeding programmes, poor market access, limited financing, insecurity and weak value chain development as major challenges confronting the sector.

According to him, NASHGODAN remains committed to providing training, mentorship and market linkages to support farmers and expand opportunities across the livestock value chain.

The association’s president also commended President Bola Tinubu for establishing the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, describing the move as a significant milestone for the country’s livestock industry.

He said the ministry had opened a new chapter for livestock production and renewed the hopes of millions of sheep and goat farmers nationwide.

Ahmed further applauded the Bauchi State Government for its commitment to agriculture and livestock development, appreciating the state’s financial support and hospitality towards participants at the conference.

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He added that the association was ready to collaborate with governments at all levels, development partners, financial institutions, researchers and private investors to unlock the sector’s full potential.

Meanwhile, Ahmed called for collaboration with livestock development projects operating in participating states, saying Bauchi should benefit from similar interventions already being implemented in states such as Ekiti, Kaduna and Adamawa.

He urged members of the association across the country to remain united and committed to transforming Nigeria into a leading producer and exporter of quality sheep and goat products.

Declaring the conference open on behalf of the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, the Commissioner for Livestock Development, Dr Bala Lukshi, described small ruminant production as a critical component of Nigeria’s livestock economy.

Lukshi commended NASHGODAN for organising the conference, describing it as a valuable contribution to the development of the livestock sector.

He disclosed that the Bauchi State Government had approved the conversion of an existing sheep and goat facility into a Small Ruminant Development Centre aimed at improving livestock breeding and supporting farmers with quality breeding stock.

According to him, the centre will serve as a source of improved breeds not only for Bauchi State but also for other parts of the country.

The commissioner also advocated the adoption of modern livestock production systems, particularly ranching and pasture development, to address the persistent farmer-herder conflict.

While drawing from his experience at an international symposium in China, Lukshi said improved pasture management could enable farmers to raise large numbers of livestock on relatively small parcels of land, thereby reducing the need for open grazing and seasonal migration.

He stressed that with increasing population pressure and shrinking grazing land, herders must embrace modern livestock production technologies capable of improving productivity while minimising conflicts with farming communities.