UN-Supported Hydroponic Fodder Training Strengthens Livestock Farming in Nigeria’s Borno State
Available in
© Chabash Development And Health Initiative CDHI
Communities in Nigeria’s conflict-affected Borno State are receiving training in hydroponic fodder production through a United Nations-supported initiative aimed at improving livestock farming and strengthening food security.
The programme, funded by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) through the Nigeria Humanitarian Fund (NHF), was implemented by the Chabash Development and Health Initiative (CDHI) in the Almiskin and Veterinary Axis communities of Dalori, located in Jere Local Government Area.
Working in partnership with the Borno State Ministry of Agriculture and the Borno State Ministry of Livestock Development, the initiative introduced participants to hydroponic techniques that enable livestock feed to be produced using significantly less land and water than conventional methods.
The approach is particularly valuable for communities affected by conflict, displacement and environmental degradation, where access to grazing land and agricultural resources remains limited.
Participants received practical training on establishing sustainable fodder production systems ahead of a planned livestock distribution programme. The objective is to ensure that beneficiaries have access to reliable animal feed once livestock are allocated, supporting healthier animals and more resilient livelihoods.
Project organisers said locally produced hydroponic fodder could also reduce the need for livestock to roam in search of pasture, helping to minimise damage to nearby farmland and reducing the potential for conflicts between crop and livestock farmers.
In addition to technical instruction, the training encouraged collaboration among participants through knowledge-sharing sessions and discussions on long-term solutions for sustainable livestock feed production in the region.
The initiative forms part of broader humanitarian efforts to strengthen food systems and improve economic resilience in communities recovering from years of insecurity in northeastern Nigeria.
