The Ondo State Government has allocated 8,000 hectares of land for the establishment of modern cattle ranches, a move expected to strengthen security, create employment opportunities and boost livestock production.

The Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, commended the initiative during a visit to the Governor’s Office in Akure, describing it as a major step towards addressing farmer-herder conflicts and attracting investment into the livestock sector.

Maiha said the establishment of ranches would keep cattle away from farmlands, reduce tensions between farmers and herders, and provide farmers with a safer environment to carry out their agricultural activities.

He noted that the initiative would also open up investment opportunities in other areas of the livestock value chain, including abattoirs, leather processing, organic fertiliser production and animal feed.

The Minister further explained that developing ranches within Ondo State and other parts of the South-West would reduce the cost and risks associated with transporting livestock over long distances, sometimes exceeding 120 kilometres, describing the existing arrangement as economically unsustainable.

According to him, the ranches would support meat processing, household consumption and the wider food supply chain, while generating employment and wealth for residents.

He assured that the Federal Government was working to address challenges confronting livestock farmers, particularly access to vaccines, animal feed and modern processing facilities.

Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, represented by the Head of Service, Segun Odusanya, said the state government had made significant investments in security to create a conducive environment for agricultural activities.

He explained that the administration had earmarked land in the northern senatorial district for the development of modern ranches, with adequate security measures to protect farmers and livestock investments.

The Governor reaffirmed Ondo State’s commitment to partnering with the Federal Government to develop the livestock sector and maximise the economic opportunities associated with the initiative.