10th U6+ Consortium of African Universities International Conference

Nigeria's agricultural sector faces mounting pressures from climate change, land degradation, and competition over pasture and water, fueling farmer–herder conflicts with severe consequences for food security and national stability. Open grazing on institutional farmlands, including the University of Ilorin, underscores the need for climate-smart fodder interventions. This study assessed Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) cultivation as a strategy for reducing open grazing pressure and mitigating conflict, while examining extension agents' competency in promoting its adoption. A descriptive quantitative design was adopted, and 200 pastoralists and extension agents were selected via two-stage sampling. Data were collected using a validated questionnaire (Cronbach's α = 0.71) and analyzed with descriptive statistics, Borich's Needs Assessment Model, and OLS regression. Findings revealed that 85.0% of pastoralists had poor knowledge of Napier grass cultivation, though they rated its promotion as highly important. Key competency gaps included peaceful co-existence between pastoralists, farmers around university community (MWDS = 1.243), effective communication (MWDS = 0.863), and technology transfer (MWDS = 0.824). Educational qualification (β = 0.099; p < 0.01) and knowledge (β = 0.210; p < 0.01) significantly influenced competency. The study concludes that Napier grass cultivation is a scalable and conflict-sensitive climate adaptation strategy. It recommends targeted capacity-building, language-focused training, and institutional fodder production models to advance SDGs 1, 2, 13, and 16.