The Federal Government don intensify plans to reduce farmers and herders clashes across Nigeria through the establishment of six modern ranches and rehabilitation of grazing reserves.
Minister of Livestock Development, Mukhtar Maiha, disclose this after briefing President Bola Tinubu on the implementation of the National Ranching Policy.
Maiha say the government don identify six areas where farmers-herders clashes dey happen frequently for the intervention.
The areas na Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Benue, Plateau, Nasarawa, Kaduna and Adamawa states.
He say the government don identify 417 grazing reserves across Nigeria and don start pilot ranching programme for Plateau State.
According to am, the Plateau project go serve as a test for a new livestock production system wey go reduce the movement of cattle and help address one of the major causes of rural conflicts.
Why Government Wants Ranching
Maiha say the traditional system where herders dey move large numbers of cattle from one place to another don become increasingly difficult to sustain.
He explain say many grazing routes don disappear because farms don expand, cities don grow and more land dey required for infrastructure development.
“A large number of cattle on the move is crisis-prone because, number one, the grazing routes have disappeared,” he said.
He add say providing food and water for animals within designated ranches go reduce the need for cattle to move long distances.
“Why don’t you provide these resources in situ and stop these animals from moving? Human beings can move; they don’t cause crisis. It’s the animals’ movement that normally generates this crisis,” Maiha said.
The minister say government dey also promote commercial pasture farming so farmers fit grow grass around livestock settlements or harvest am from other places and transport am to the animals.
Government also dey work on improving cattle breeds so herders fit keep fewer animals but get more milk and meat from them.
Ranches To Become Economic Hubs
Maiha say the proposed ranches no go only be places where government restrict cattle movement.
He say the plan na to develop grazing reserves into integrated communities with houses, veterinary clinics, primary schools, healthcare centres, solar power and earth dams for irrigation.
According to am, the ranches fit also attract milk processing companies, modular abattoirs, biodigesters and other businesses connected to the livestock industry.
“At the end of the day, each of those grazing reserves will become an economic hub,” he said.
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He give the example of a grazing reserve with about 30,000 cattle, saying the quantity of milk produced there alone could attract milk processing companies.
Maiha say government don begin discussions with pastoral communities and about 34 organisations have taken part in the consultations.
He say the ministry met pastoralists under the leadership of the Grand Patron of Miyetti Allah and Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar.
Another meeting with the groups dey expected within two weeks.
The minister say government never see serious resistance to the ranching plan because, according to am, the traditional nomadic system no longer sustainable.
Government Plans Livestock Tracking
Maiha also announce plans to introduce radio frequency identification for livestock.
Under the system, cattle and other four-legged animals go get electronic ear tags wey go help identify their owners and track their location.
He say the system go help government create a national livestock database and make am easier to trace animals wey stray or get stolen through cattle rustling.
The minister describe the livestock identification programme as one of the government’s non-kinetic measures to reduce insecurity and farmers-herders clashes.
More Investment In Livestock Sector
Apart from ranching, the Federal Government say e dey focus on modern abattoirs, dairy production, commercial fodder cultivation, veterinary services, vaccine storage and poultry production.
Maiha say government dey encourage investors and development partners to establish large-scale dairy projects.
The government also dey promote commercial fodder production for local use and export.
He say government dey consider importing hatchable eggs on a large scale to stabilise the poultry industry and reduce the time local producers wait for day-old chicks.
The minister also say government don build at least seven model veterinary clinics.
The long-term plan, according to am, na to establish at least one model veterinary hospital in every state and expand veterinary clinics to communities wey currently lack the services.
Government dey also develop off-grid cold-chain facilities across the country to store and transport animal vaccines at the correct temperature.
Maiha say the Ministry of Livestock Development, wey government establish in July 2024, dey work to modernise the livestock sector and make am sustainable, profitable and competitive globally.
He add say about 20 states don also establish livestock ministries or agencies, which he say go improve cooperation between the Federal Government and states.
