Nigeria's Critical Skill Shortage in Ranching: The Science of Range Management is Lacking

An African proverb wisely states, "He who learns, never loses; he who prepares, never thirsts." This sentiment resonates deeply as Nigeria engages in discussions about developing ranches and grazing reserves to address the persistent farmer-herder conflicts and modernize its livestock industry. However, a fundamental element is conspicuously missing from these crucial conversations: expertise in range management science.

As the world observes 2026 as the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP), an initiative led by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Nigeria faces a significant test of leadership and foresight. This global observance highlights the vital role of communities managing vast landscapes – nearly half of the Earth's surface. Pastoralists are increasingly recognized not only as managers of ecosystems but also as significant contributors to food security and crucial actors in biodiversity conservation.

Given its extensive rangelands and a substantial population reliant on them, Nigeria has a prime opportunity to lead in sustainable rangeland stewardship across Africa. The IYRP aims to promote practices that combat land degradation, foster climate change adaptation, and enhance the livelihoods of pastoralists. It advocates for policies that guarantee land tenure security, protect traditional mobility patterns, respect indigenous knowledge, and promote investments in education, infrastructure, and animal health services.

The initiative, launched in Rome on December 2, 2025, emphasizes a core truth: pastoral systems are integral, not peripheral, to sustainable development. Nigeria's engagement during this international year will serve as a barometer of its commitment to preserving both its natural landscapes and the livelihoods dependent on them.

Spanning over half of Nigeria's territory, particularly in its northern states, the country's rangelands extend across an estimated 650,000 square kilometers suitable for grazing. These vital areas play a role in soil stabilization, biodiversity preservation, and acting as a buffer against desertification. Yet, challenges such as overgrazing, land-use changes, the impacts of climate change, and recurrent conflicts over grazing resources are steadily diminishing their productivity. Without a focused, science-based management approach, degradation will likely accelerate, jeopardizing livestock production and rural stability.

Simply constructing ranch infrastructure will not resolve these complex issues. Achieving sustainable productivity hinges on professional ecological management.

Range Management Science is a specialized field that synthesizes knowledge from ecology, animal science, soil science, hydrology, and socio-economics to ensure the responsible and sustainable use of rangelands. Its objectives include optimizing livestock production, conserving biodiversity, and maintaining overall ecosystem health.

Effective range management involves regulating grazing intensity, enhancing the productivity of pastures, conserving precious soil and water resources, rehabilitating degraded lands, and strengthening both pastoral and ranching systems for enhanced long-term resilience. When applied scientifically, these principles can transform extensive and intensive livestock systems into climate-resilient production landscapes.

However, Nigeria is experiencing a pronounced scarcity of qualified professionals in this field. This lack of trained experts significantly impedes the nation's capacity to effectively plan, develop, and sustainably manage ranches, grazing reserves, stock routes, and mixed crop-livestock systems, all while safeguarding sensitive ecosystems.

The International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists presents an opportune moment to address and rectify this critical skills deficit.

My own engagement with range management began early in my professional journey, spurred by an understanding of the crucial role legumes and grasses play in livestock nutrition. I quickly learned that managing rangelands extends beyond simply feeding animals; it encompasses the sustenance of entire ecosystems and the security of livelihoods.

A significant experience during my tenure with the International Livestock Centre for Africa (ILCA, now ILRI) in Kaduna State proved particularly insightful. Through the Sub-Humid Programme, our team was instrumental in developing the Fodder Bank concept. This involved establishing year-round plots of protein-rich legumes designed to nourish livestock while simultaneously improving soil fertility.

This innovative approach was later expanded under the World Bank-assisted Second Livestock Development Project (SLDP), where I served as Project Manager. The implementation of fodder banks within grazing reserves proved successful in facilitating the settlement of pastoralists, boosting livestock productivity, and mitigating the need for long-distance transhumance, thereby reducing related conflicts.

The central lesson derived from these initiatives was unequivocal: the success of ranches and grazing reserves is not solely dependent on their physical infrastructure. Their viability is intrinsically linked to sound biological and ecological management, guided by the expertise of trained range management professionals and other relevant specialists.

Situations such as wildfires, floods, droughts, or disease outbreaks can rapidly lead to the collapse of a ranch or grazing reserve. True resilience in the face of such challenges stems from thorough preparation grounded in robust range science.

During the dry season, the prevailing Harmattan winds and dry vegetation create conditions where a minor spark can ignite a devastating wildfire. Implementing fire tracing—the creation of cleared strips to act as firebreaks—is paramount for safeguarding livestock, infrastructure, pastures, fodder banks, and stored feed. Judiciously managed controlled burning can also play a role in nutrient recycling and stimulating vegetation regrowth.

Flooding poses another substantial risk. Floodwaters can result in livestock fatalities, damage critical infrastructure, and introduce dangerous reptiles and disease-causing pathogens, including potentially dormant spores of Bacillus anthracis. As floodwaters recede, pastures in low-lying areas that have been inundated may present risks of snakebites and anthrax outbreaks. Strategic mapping of flood-prone zones, the establishment of effective early warning systems, and the timely relocation of herds can significantly mitigate such vulnerabilities.

Building resilience to drought must commence proactively, before rainfall shortages become critical. Utilizing seasonal weather forecasts, investing in water harvesting techniques, and implementing measures to store runoff can enhance pasture stability and lessen the impact on livestock systems.

Regular vaccination programs and effective tick control are essential for maintaining herd health. Ecological practices such as deferred grazing, rotational grazing, and overnight kraaling contribute to improved soil fertility and the regeneration of pastures. The passage of legume seeds through an animal's digestive system, followed by their deposition in manure, can further aid in pasture expansion.

These interventions are not arbitrary measures but are fundamental tools employed by professional range managers.

In contrast to veterinary medicine and animal science, fields for which Nigerians were initially trained abroad before the establishment of robust local programs, Range Management Science is not currently offered as a comprehensive degree program in any Nigerian university. Many Nigerian professionals trained in this discipline in countries like the United States and Australia have since retired.

This educational void is particularly striking in a nation where livestock production still heavily relies on open-range systems, despite policy shifts increasingly favoring ranching. The absence of locally trained specialists risks the underutilization of Nigeria's rangelands and the forfeiture of opportunities to sustainably transform the livestock sector.

The International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists should transcend mere symbolic observance; it must serve as a critical wake-up call for action.

With its extensive grazing lands and a national agenda focused on livestock transformation, Nigeria cannot afford to disregard the scientific principles that underpin the sustainability of its rangelands. Universities, especially those with agricultural faculties, must rise to this challenge by establishing dedicated degree programs in Range Management Science.

Working collaboratively with veterinarians, animal scientists, and other agricultural experts, range management professionals are indispensable for the effective planning and administration of grazing reserves, the development of sustainable ranches, and the enhancement of integrated crop-livestock systems. Their specialized knowledge is vital for restoring degraded rangelands, boosting production, reducing conflicts over resource use, and safeguarding fragile ecosystems.

For Nigeria to cultivate a resilient, climate-smart livestock sector and establish itself as a continental leader in sustainable rangeland management, decisive action is imperative. As a Chinese proverb wisely advises, "Dig the well before you are thirsty."

This piece is dedicated to Mal. Bello Sule and is in memory of Habibu Suleiman and Bashir Ruma, esteemed graduates of Range Management Science from New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, USA, who imparted invaluable knowledge of range science to me. Dr Maina resides at 13b Khartoum Street Wuse Zone 5, Abuja.