22 October 2013 Growing the Nigerian grasslands: Lincoln Professor puts agricultural expertise to use in Africa

Lincoln University’s Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Professor Bruce McKenzie, recently spent 14 days in a remote region of Nigeria as part of an invitation to provide expert advice on ways to improve sub-Saharan grassland production for grazing.

The visit is part of ongoing research driven by Professor Stephen Goldson, a research Theme Leader for the Bio-Protection Research Centre (a National Centre of Research Excellence located at Lincoln University), and Associate Professor Hazel Chapman, a Lecturer in Evolutionary Ecology at the University of Canterbury.

The research falls under the Nigerian Montane Forest Project which, among other things, is investigating low-input methods to improve pasture for grazing on the Mambilla Plateau; a grassland area of some 9000 square kilometres to the east of the country bordering Cameroon.

A number of pasture management issues face the cattle grazers in this area. As well as wet-season overgrazing, in part due to a lack of overall feed, the dominant grassland species is a tough tussock which can wear out the cattle’s teeth in just a couple of years.

From examining the grassland ecosystem on the Mambilla Plateau and studying research material on comparable grasslands across the wider region, Professor McKenzie saw encouraging signs for improving pasture grazing for what is currently a significantly degraded region.

“We did find some legumes growing throughout the Plateau. This is encouraging in that it indicates that soil pH may be suitable for sowing other high value varieties. However, improving the plant species needs to be coupled with the introduction of a rotational grazing system. Leaving the cattle to selectively graze, as is the case currently, will undermine the grassland irrespective of plant types,” says Professor McKenzie.

One cost-effective way of achieving this could be via New Zealand-developed solar-powered electric fence technology; a suggestion that was met favourably by the cattle grazers spoken with.

Professor McKenzie, Professor Goldson and Associate Professor Chapman were also welcomed on to the campus of the Federal University of Kashere where they were hosted by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Mohammed Kabir Farouk, and the Dean of Agriculture, Professor Ahmed Abdu Manga, both of whom have visited Lincoln University previously.

As well as discussions around involving post-graduate students from the local University in the ongoing Nigerian Montane Forest Project, there was also a continuation of prior discussions involving staff and student exchanges.

Professor McKenzie’s visit to Nigeria is in line with Lincoln University’s commitment to share its expertise in agricultural science and food production with other regions throughout the world: another example being the University’s involvement with key regions within Papua New Guinea through the Linc Wantok development programme.