A Professor of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production at the University of Abuja, Clement Alawa, has called for a strategic policy shift to integrate indigenous knowledge with modern agricultural practices to boost sustainable livestock production in Nigeria.
Speaking at the university’s 46th inaugural lecture titled “Bridging Worlds: Blending Indigenous Knowledge and Modern Practices for Sustainable Livestock Production,” Alawa emphasised the importance of traditional expertise in building resilient, environmentally conscious, and productive livestock systems.
He recommended a nationwide inventory of forage resources, crop residues, and by-products to support effective feed budgeting and animal agriculture planning.
“There is need for policy revisions at all levels to recognize and incorporate indigenous knowledge into mainstream agricultural policies,” he said. “We must invest in community capacity building, training programs, and research to explore how traditional practices can complement modern methods.”
Alawa urged stakeholders to fund research that examines the efficacy and adaptability of indigenous techniques and to support animal farmers with seed grants for community-led action research. He also advocated for stronger public-private partnerships to integrate traditional expertise into the national livestock value chain.
“The fusion of indigenous knowledge and modern technologies enhances productivity, improves environmental sustainability, and strengthens the resilience of livestock systems,” he noted, stressing the need for continuous research and adaptive strategies to meet evolving agricultural challenges.
Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Patricia Manko Lar, said the lecture was timely and crucial to addressing Nigeria’s food security concerns.
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