Nigeria’s livestock sector may have found its breakthrough solution, Alfalfa. The high-protein forage crop, now thriving in trials at Plateau State University (PLASU) with funding from The Alternative Bank, is being hailed as a game-changer that could transform animal feed, boost productivity, and ease the long-standing farmer herder conflict.
At the University’s Green Field Day on Alfalfa Adaptability and Performance Trials, which held at the university’s Faculty of Agriculture Research Plot in Bokkos, Plateau, on Tuesday, researchers, policymakers, farmers, agribusiness leaders, and development partners gathered to see firsthand how the initiative – handed over to PLASU in May 2025 under The Alternative Bank’s Corporate Social Investment programme – is advancing livestock feed solutions in Nigeria.
Preliminary results from the trials have been highly encouraging, showing clear viability under Plateau State’s weather and soil conditions. Presenting his paper on Alfalfa Adaptability and Performance under Plateau’s Climate’, Associate Professor Hosea Istifanus Finangwai, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture at Plateau State University and lead of the Alfalfa Project Research Team, reported that germination rates exceeded 85% within two weeks. He further noted that the crop adapted well to local soils, reaching heights of up to 66.5cm in 13 weeks – figures consistent with global benchmarks.
With projected biomass yields of over 18-20 tons per hectare annually for 3 cuttings under rain-fed conditions, Alfalfa is emerging as a viable, high-nutrition forage for Nigeria’s dairy and beef industries. The researchers expect crude protein levels to align with international standards, reinforcing Alfalfa’s potential to strengthen livestock feed and reshape ruminant nutrition.
On the strength of these findings, Hassan Yusuf, CEO of The Alternative Bank, described the trials as a milestone for Nigeria’s livestock sector.
“This is a breakthrough moment. Alfalfa can redefine livestock farming and secure Nigeria’s food future,” said Yusuf, who was represented at the event by Ugonwa Ikegwuonu, the Bank’s Head of Agric Finance.
“Seeing students, researchers, and farmers interact around the trials proves the value of this partnership. PLASU has advanced the science and also created a model of how academia and financial institutions can collaborate to deliver sustainable agricultural solutions. This milestone strengthens our resolve and reinforces our mission to invest in initiatives that create widescale opportunities and foster economic resilience,” he added.
In his remarks, Professor Shedrack Gaya Best, Vice-Chancellor of PLASU, represented by The Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration, Associate Professor Keziah Ayuba, commended The Alternative Bank for its pioneering support. He noted that the project has positioned the University as a hub for agricultural innovation in Nigeria while equipping students with valuable field experience, exposing them to opportunities for entrepreneurship in agriculture, and giving the institution greater visibility on the national stage.
The herders’ community at the event also expressed gratitude for being recognised and pledged their support for the initiative. Meanwhile, the Plateau State Government, represented by the Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon. Dr. Sunday Akpa, applauded the collaboration and affirmed the State Government’s readiness to scale up the project across all 17 local governments as a pathway to unlocking the vast potential of the livestock value chain, enhancing rural livelihoods, and strengthening food security in the state.
The Alfalfa initiative remains a key part of The Alternative Bank’s broader strategy to support agricultural value chains and university-led agribusiness innovations. By investing in research-driven projects with commercial potential, the Bank continues to demonstrate its commitment to regenerative agriculture, non-interest financing solutions, and sustainable development across Nigeria.
