By; JACOB ONJEWU DICKSON
The National Agency for the Great Green Wall, a reforestation agency established by the federal government to recover millions of hectares of land has described cattle ranching as the global best practice which when embraced, can lessen the conflict between farmers and herders in Nigeria.
The Director General of the agency, Yusuf Maina Bukar represented by Safiyanu Ahmed Yavala, the acting Director Resource Mobilization and Partnership Building, disclosed this at a Capacity Building and Technical Training on Pilot Cattle Ranch, Fodder Farm and Orchard Planting in Nguru Local Government Area, Yobe state.
Maina Bukar further explained, “the climate change induced conflicts between farmer and herders have resulted in several deaths, displacements, resettlements and loss of property such as livestock, among others.
“In recognition of all this, the National Agency for the Great Green Wall developed a survival-mechanism in accordance with strategic action plan through the establishment of cattle ranch, fodder farm and orchard model in order to strengthen capacities of the affected victims.
“This is why today, the National Agency for the Great Green Wall in collaboration with Wetland Farmers in Nguru Cooperative Society is here to encourage the communities to join the common purpose of participating in the efforts to combat land degradation,” he said.
In his remarks, the National President of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Baba Othman also revealed that cattle ranching when fully supported with the necessary infrastructure and other social amenities, can boost the economy through income regeneration.
“Bulk of the Nigerian livestock are reared through extensive grazing on marginal lands and grazing reserves. History of grazing reserve, stock route, forage production, pasture development is a bit to be repeated here, but associate problems of management, encroachment, degradation, vegetation depletion and land titles are scaring and potent as to warrant fresh strategies and synergy to arrest, the situation from getting worst.
“To achieve sustainable cattle ranching, government must improve the productivity and efficiency of cattle production system, invest in veterinary services and animal disease surveillance, support development of livestock value chain and promote the integration of livestock with crop and forestry system,” he said.
The Chairman, Nguru Wetland Farmers’ Cooperative Association, Abba Liman in his keynote address, revealed scarcity of land for grazing, increase in population among other factors are gradually fueling the conflict between the two farmers, urging the federal government for more support.
The training which will last for three days, features practical experience of livestock breeding management, demonstration of climate smart agricultural practices and orchard plantation, using the half-moon planting method.
