From: Tunde Omolehin, Sokoto
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is to construct three grazing reserves in each senatorial district within Sokoto State.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Knowledge Management and Communications Officer of the Fund in the State, Hayatu Dallatu, and issued to Journalists in Sokoto.
The statement quoted the state Programme Officer, who also doubled as the Director General IFAD Sokoto State, Dr. Aminu Aliyu Dogon Daji, as saying that the reserves would be provided under its new,” Climate Change Adaptation and Agri-business Support Programme.”
The state Institutional Development Officer, Abubakar Samaila, who represented Dogon Daji at the event, said the state government had already provided 300 hectares of land in three of the senatorial zones for that purpose.
According to the statement, the reserves would be located in Tangaza, Isa and Kebbe local government areas, for Sokoto central, east and west senatorial districts, respectively.
”This is in order to complement the federal government ‘s efforts towards the development of pastoral activities in the state.
“Each grazing reserve will have a veterinary clinic, nomadic school, as well as a wind mill,” the statement read, further explaining that IFAD had taken measures to reduce the incessant clashes between farmers and herdsmen in the state.
It said the motive was to bring together the Fulani herdsmen at one point, so as to reduce the clashes between them and farmers
”Considering the fact that the itinerant nature of the Fulani herdsmen, IFAD deemed it necessary to provide them with these reserves.
” This is in order to ease their suffering, as well as movement from one part of the country to the other,” the statement emphasised..