Adamawa State is set to strengthen its livestock production system following the launch of a five-year Feed and Fodder Project by Dabareji Agro Investment Limited, targeting the cultivation of two million Lucerne plants across the state.
The initiative was officially flagged off on Saturday at Daware Community in Fufore Local Government Area in partnership with the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (L-PRES) programme in Adamawa State.
The project is aimed at addressing one of the major challenges confronting Nigeria’s livestock sector — inadequate access to quality and nutritious animal feed.
Under the initiative, Dabareji Agro Investment Limited will expand commercial fodder production while supporting livestock farmers with a reliable source of feed for cattle and other animals.
The intervention comes amid growing concerns over declining pasture resources, land degradation, changing weather patterns and increasing competition over grazing areas, which continue to affect livestock production across the country.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Dabareji Agro Investment Limited, Alhaji Sadiq Umar Daware, popularly known as Dan Lawan Adamawa, described the project as a long-term investment in livestock production, environmental restoration, climate action and rural development.
“Today is not only the beginning of a tree planting campaign; it is the launch of a long-term investment in environmental restoration, sustainable livestock production, climate action and community development,” Daware said.
He explained that the five-year programme would go beyond the cultivation of Lucerne to establish a sustainable feed and fodder ecosystem capable of improving livestock productivity and supporting farmers across Adamawa State.
Lucerne, also known as alfalfa, is a highly nutritious forage crop valued particularly for its protein content and suitability for livestock feeding.
The expansion of locally produced fodder is expected to reduce farmers’ dependence on natural pasture while improving the consistency and nutritional quality of livestock diets, particularly during periods of feed scarcity.
The project is also expected to strengthen the resilience of livestock farmers to climate-related challenges. With changing weather patterns increasingly affecting pasture availability, dedicated fodder production could provide farmers with a reliable alternative during periods of seasonal feed shortages.
Government officials, traditional rulers, development partners, livestock farmers and media representatives attended the flag-off ceremony, underscoring the importance attached to the initiative.
Beyond improving livestock nutrition, the two-million-Lucerne target could stimulate the development of a commercial fodder value chain covering cultivation, harvesting, processing, storage and distribution.
The initiative could also create additional income-generating opportunities for rural communities while supporting farmers to improve animal productivity and profitability.
Stakeholders said successful implementation of the project could provide a practical model for addressing Nigeria’s persistent feed and fodder challenges through private-sector investment and sustainable agricultural practices.
The Dabareji Agro Investment initiative ultimately seeks to place adequate, quality and sustainable livestock feed at the centre of efforts to increase animal productivity, improve farmers incomes and build a more resilient livestock economy in Adamawa State.
