Assessment of existing indigenous practices employed that promote sustainable grazing in grazing reserves of Northeastern Nigeria

Abstract

The study assessed existing indigenous practices employed that promote sustainable grazing in grazing reserves of northeastern Nigeria. The method used include: Semi-structure interview, field inventory and observations. The major findings of the study revealed that the indigenous practices employed in the grazing reserves by herders are sustainable in livestock. Among the problems encountered in livestock production in region are; inadequate water resources, inadequate pasture, shortage of land, annual occurrence of conflict, improper bush fires, farming intensification leads to encroachment, lack of security during mobility to some places, lack of funding and high cost in buying hay, competition of important grasses for livestock feeding and lack of fodder banks. In conclusion, there is lack of proper attention and inability of the responsible government agencies to provide effective management programmes, coupled with dilapidated and non-functioning infrastructures revealed during field survey. It is recommended that, for the reserve to achieve its mandate, all dilapidated infrastructures (tools and facilities) should be revamped and construction of new ones by both government and non-governmental organizations.