As Africa’s food systems come under increasing strain from climate shocks and geopolitical uncertainty, stakeholders are calling for a decisive shift in agricultural strategy—anchored on innovation, research and strong private sector investment—to secure the future of the livestock industry.
At a three-day high-level forum in Abuja, producers, processors, financiers and policymakers converged to negotiate deals, forge supply agreements and rebuild trust across a fragmented value chain. The meeting, organised by the African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) under its Africa Pastoral Markets Development (APMD) Platform, is part of a four-year Gates Foundation-backed initiative to transform pastoral economies into market-driven, inclusive and resilient systems.
The theme is “Facilitate Private Investment in Pastoral Market Systems through Structured Financing Partnerships and B2B Market Matchmaking.”
With Nigeria’s population projected to hit 350 million by 2030, stakeholders warned that the livestock sector faces mounting pressure to meet rising demand for animal protein sustainably. They stressed that current production levels remain insufficient, underscoring the urgency of scaling investment and adopting modern, science-driven practices.
Project Knowledge Management Expert, APMD, Eric Allela, described livestock as central to national nutrition but constrained by low productivity and weak market systems. He argued that meaningful progress would require deeper collaboration between government and the private sector.
“Livestock is too important to remain underdeveloped. We must move beyond incremental output gains to building integrated, efficient value chains that can meet demand and compete globally. That requires investment in research, innovation and structured market systems that connect producers to processors and consumers,” he said.
Allela pointed to Ethiopia’s emerging “Luna Model” as a compelling example of how coordinated systems can transform pastoral production into a competitive export industry. :By linking thousands of outgrowers to formal markets, supported by veterinary services, traceability systems and export-standard processing facilities, the model has improved supply reliability, reduced losses and strengthened profitability.”
He noted that the approach also addresses long-standing financing barriers. “When transactions are formalised and supply chains are predictable, lenders can finance based on cash flow rather than traditional collateral. That is a game changer for pastoral producers,” he said.
Beyond commercial gains,he added that the model is also delivering social impact, with increased participation of women and youth and more stable incomes for pastoral households, particularly during dry seasons.
Also speaking, the Acting Chief Operations Officer , Kaduna-based Zaidi Farms Ltd, Yazid Muktar said Nigeria must adopt a dual strategy that tackles immediate production challenges while laying the foundation for long-term sustainability.
He explained that the company operates an integrated livestock system across the Kaduna–Kano–Abuja corridor, combining intensive, semi-intensive and extensive models, alongside partnerships with pastoral communities.
“Our focus is consistency of supply because that is what the market demands.Processors need predictability, and that can only come from coordinated systems and strong partnerships across the value chain,” he said.
He, however, highlighted persistent bottlenecks, including high transport costs, volatile feed prices, weak cold chain infrastructure and poor coordination between producers and processors. To scale operations, he said the company is seeking flexible financing tailored to agricultural cycles, with affordable rates and repayment structures aligned to production timelines.
Private Sector Engagement Expert , AU-IBAR, Mohammed Eidie, said the Abuja forum was designed to move beyond dialogue to tangible outcomes by facilitating direct business-to-business engagement.
“We are building the infrastructure of trust that allows markets to function.This platform connects producers, buyers and financiers in ways that lead to real contracts, not just conversations,” he said.
According to him, the APMD Platform focuses on strengthening private sector participation, improving policy frameworks and developing reliable data systems to guide investment decisions, while embedding gender inclusion, youth employment, nutrition and climate resilience.
“The goal is clear. We want to see more supply agreements, more financing partnerships and policy reforms that unlock the sector’s potential. If this works, it becomes a model that can be replicated across pastoral economies in Africa,” Eidie added.
