African Ministers announce stronger support for pastoralism at AFSF 2025
Thirteen countries commit to boosting livestock productivity and livelihoods as demand for meat and milk surges.
SENEGAL – Pastoralism in Africa is set for renewed attention after 13 countries agreed on fresh measures to strengthen the sector during the African Forum on Food Systems in Dakar on September 3.
The meeting, co-organized by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), the African Union’s Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) and German Cooperation (GIZ), brought together livestock ministers for the first time.
Leaders committed to feed banks, improved breeding programs, and youth-led agribusiness ventures to respond to the rising demand for meat and dairy.
By 2050, Africa’s demand for meat is expected to triple while milk demand will double. The new commitments aim to raise productivity, close the gap with global supply, and make pastoral systems more resilient.
Senegal’s Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Livestock, Mabouba Diagne, stressed the scale of the challenge. “We produce only 400 million litres of milk, compared to more than 2 billion litres per year in Kenya and Uganda,” he said.
ILRI Director General Appolinaire Djikeng called for regional cooperation. “The solutions already exist in Africa, and we need to scale them up at the regional level by mobilizing institutional expertise to connect science, policy and practice. We have win-win solutions: meeting the growing demand for livestock products, improving the livelihoods of more than 200 million African pastoralists, while ensuring environmental sustainability,” he said.
A vital sector facing pressure
Pastoralism remains one of the few economic activities in arid and semi-arid regions of Africa. It supports about 80 million people in West Africa alone, where ILRI data shows it provides 65% of beef and 75% of milk supplies.
Despite this, Africa contributes just 2.6% to global milk production, even though 85% of the world’s farmers live on the continent.
The sector continues to face pressure from climate change, rapid urban growth, land competition, insecurity, and restrictions on pastoral mobility. Ministers agreed to step up regional cooperation and share good practices through stronger links between science and policy.
Recent regional developments
The Dakar commitments come as West Africa records stronger investment in pastoral resilience. In August, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) adopted a plan to support cross-border mobility of herders and enhance conflict prevention mechanisms.
The program focuses on improving animal health services and setting up corridors that reduce clashes between herders and farmers.
Observers say these developments signal a turning point for a sector often overlooked in policy discussions. By pooling resources and expertise, African countries hope to secure food supplies, improve incomes, and strengthen pastoral systems for the long term.
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