• Works launched on a 1,950-hectare pasture site in southeastern Guinea

• Project targets improved pastoral management and fewer farmer-herder disputes

• Government plans up to 20,000 hectares of grazing areas over five years

Guinea’s Ministry of Livestock said on December 19 that it has launched works to develop a grazing zone at Foumbadou, in the Lola district. The project represents the country’s first modern pasture infrastructure.

The ministry said the project will cover 1,950 hectares in its initial phase. Local media outlet Guinée News reported that the site will later expand to about 3,000 hectares, with extensions planned in Lainé, covering 250 hectares, and Guéasso, covering 500 hectares.

The project includes fenced grazing areas, modern water points accessible year-round, clearly defined and secured transhumance corridors, livestock rest and holding areas, and nearby veterinary facilities aimed at improving animal health.

Investment plan to curb pastoral conflicts

The Foumbadou project forms part of a broader investment plan in the livestock sector. The Ministry of Livestock plans to develop up to 20,000 hectares of grazing zones over the next five years across districts including Lola, Beyla, Macenta, Mandiana, Kérouané, and parts of Middle Guinea. Authorities say the goal is to better organize pastoral activities and support peaceful coexistence between farmers and herders.

As in many African countries where livestock production relies largely on pastoralism, Guinea has long faced recurrent conflicts between farmers and herders. These disputes usually stem from limited and poorly managed grazing resources, which often lead to crop damage by livestock and, in some cases, violent community clashes. The issue carries major social, economic, and security implications.

While no comprehensive data are available for Guinea, the scale of such losses can be illustrated by Nigeria, where a 2015 report by U.S.-based humanitarian group Mercy Corps estimated annual economic losses of about $13.7 billion from farmer-herder conflicts.

In Guinea, a rise in these disputes prompted the government to ban cross-border transhumance from January 2025, in an effort to reduce violence linked to livestock entering farming areas. It remains to be seen whether the rollout of modern grazing zones will deliver lasting improvements in pastoral management and conflict prevention.

Stéphanas Assocle