Farmers/herders conflict: FG presses ahead with grazing reserves, ranches

From Adetutu Folasade-Koyi, Abuja

The Federal Government is pressing ahead with establishment of grazing reserves and creation of modern ranches across the country.

Sixteen locations in eight states have been mapped out as livestock services centres, as contained in the National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP).

The NLTP encompasses Grazing Reserves Development, which, in addition to provision of livestock service centres in 16 locations in eight states, also provides capacity-building of grazing reserve users as well as strengthening of conflict resolution mechanisms.

The NLTP also allows the development of gazetted grazing reserves and promotion of creation of modern ranches.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Mohammad Abubakar, disclosed these in Abuja, at the fifth edition of the PMB Administration scorecard, 2015-2023, yesterday.

Said Abubakar: “Government believes this is a permanent solution to the perennial farmers/herders clashes. We have additional 70 farmers/herders conflicts and this is to strengthen intervention relationship between these two groups.

“It is impossible for one group to exist without the other. So, the ministry is doing everything possible, under various programmes to make sure we have harmony between the two groups.

“I don’t think, at any given time, intentionally , herders push their cattle to go and eat farm produce or crops. Accidentally, the cattle might stray and go into the farmland and this is the source of the conflict. That’s why ranching is the easiest and best solution. States are currently being boarded into the L-PRES. In some states that are opposed to grazing and reserves and we’ve explained fully the difference between the two and they’ve accepted (that ranches can be established). They serve the same function. So, government is doing everything possible to contain it (the conflicts).

“That’s why, on December 12, 2022, there will be a regional summit on farmer/herder conflicts in Abuja. We’re very interested and serious about that.”

On the National Agricultural Development Fund Bill, the minister said Buhari has assented to the Bill and, “we’re getting  five percent from natural resources; five percent from rice, etc and an agency to harness that which is already signed into law.”