— Advocates Integration of Indigenous Knowledge for Sustainable Livestock Production

By Joseph Erunke, Abuja

A Professor of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production at the University of Abuja, Clement Alawa, has called for a strategic policy shift at local, national, and international levels to recognize and integrate indigenous knowledge systems into modern livestock production practices.

Delivering the university’s 46th Inaugural Lecture, titled “Bridging Worlds: Blending Indigenous Knowledge and Modern Practices for Sustainable Livestock Production”, Prof. Alawa highlighted the critical role that traditional expertise plays in creating resilient, sustainable, and environmentally friendly livestock systems.

He stressed the need for comprehensive policy reforms and guidelines that encourage the respectful incorporation of traditional practices into mainstream agricultural frameworks.

“There is a need for policy revisions that incorporate and recognize the value of indigenous knowledge in livestock production,” Alawa stated.

“We must establish guidelines that promote respectful integration of these practices into agricultural policy at all levels.”

Prof. Alawa’s lecture included a series of strategic recommendations: Inventory & Resource Mapping: Conduct a national inventory of forage resources, crop residues, and by-product outputs to develop sustainable feed budgeting and balancing models for animal agriculture.

Capacity Building: Implement training programs, workshops, and educational initiatives to empower indigenous communities and facilitate knowledge sharing across generations.

Research & Innovation: Allocate funding for research at the intersection of indigenous and modern agricultural practices, with a focus on adaptability, efficacy, and innovation potential.

Public-Private Partnerships: Encourage collaboration between government agencies and private sector players to amplify the impact of traditional practices and improve livestock value chains.

Farmer-Led Solutions: Support farmer groups in identifying challenges and funding action research to develop solutions they can readily adopt.

“The fusion of indigenous expertise and modern technologies offers a pathway to improve efficiency and sustainability while reducing environmental impact,” Alawa noted.

He also emphasized that continuous research and adaptive management are necessary to ensure the integration of traditional knowledge remains relevant in a dynamic agricultural landscape.

“The agricultural sector is constantly evolving. To remain effective, we must invest in ongoing studies and innovations that bridge both worlds,” he said.

Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Patricia Manko Lar, described the lecture as timely and significant, particularly in light of Nigeria’s pressing food security concerns.

She praised Prof. Alawa’s work for shedding light on a valuable but often overlooked area of agricultural development.