The Federal government has declared June 28th every year to be marked as National Pasture Planting Day to encourage private and public sector investments in commercial pasture production.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar made this known in Abuja yesterday during the flag-off of the National Pasture Development Programme at Paiko Kore Grazing Reserve, Gwagwalada.

The move, he said, was part of efforts in promoting intentional pasture development.
He noted that the programme is expected to focus on forage species cultivated for livestock feed that are carefully selected based on adaptation to ecological areas as animal feed.

According to him, the NAPDEP would serve as a panacea for reduction in conflict emanating from cattle movement, attainment of self-sufficiency in good quality pasture forage production and the transition from extensive grazing to a well-planned, settled form of livestock production.