Transforming livestock through forages: Opportunities, barriers, and strategic priorities in sub‐Saharan Africa

Abstract Sub‐Saharan Africa faces a severe and growing ruminant feed deficit, constraining livestock productivity and the development of sustainable, climate‐resilient food systems. This article quantifies the deficit and assesses the role of improved cultivated forages in closing it across 10 countries: South Sudan, Sudan, Somalia, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Mali, Senegal, and Nigeria. The analysis estimates that addressing the forage gap over a 10‐year horizon would require more than 1.2 million hectares of cultivated forage, the engagement of over 1.1 million farmers, and up to 100,000 metric tons of seed. This expansion represents a major economic opportunity, with a potential forage seed market value of US$247–424 million and forage crop value of US$3.4–6.2 billion, depending on the adoption scenario. Despite growing policy recognition of feed shortages in the studied countries, systemic barriers—including weak and import‐dependent seed systems, limited private‐sector investment, land competition, and inadequate extension services—continue to restrict forage adoption. Closing the feed gap will require integrated technical and institutional measures: strengthening local seed production, harmonizing regional seed regulations, incentivizing private‐sector engagement, improving farmer training, and embedding forage development into livestock strategies. With coordinated investments, improved forages can significantly increase livestock productivity, rural incomes, and climate resilience across sub‐Saharan Africa.