• Friday, March 29, 2024
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BusinessDay

Resolute 4.0 seen as solution to Nigeria’s farmers-herders crisis

farmers

Resolute 4.0 technology has been seen as one of the solutions to Nigeria’s decades of prolonged violent conflicts between farmers and herders which have thwarted growth and development in recent years.

The farmers-herders crisis has destroyed hundreds of lives and properties worth millions of naira in states where the conflicts occurred. But with the adoption of the resolute 4.0 technology, this will become a thing of the past as conflicts will be reduced to the barest minimum.

According to experts in the livestock subsector, adoption of the technology will help Nigeria in tackling its farmers-herders conflicts, while creating infrastructures to drive ranching investments as a lasting solution to the decades-long conflicts.

“We have taken it upon ourselves to ensure that this crisis comes to an end and to do this, we have created the resolute 4.0 technology,” said Rotimi Williams, chief executive officer, Kereksuk Rice Farm.

“There are two parts to the technology. The first part is an early warning system where a device is provided to flash point communities to alert authorities on any impending attacks,” Williams said.

He stated that the second part of the technology will be disclosed in due time, when the initiative has been officially launched.

Williams owns the second largest commercial rice farm in Nigeria by land size and has been unable to return to his farmland owing to the continuous farmers-herders conflicts in the community where he operates.

“I have not planted anything since 2017 and this is because of the continuous farmers-herders crisis going on in the area my farmland is. This is not only affecting me but all farmers in the community,” he said.

He urged the Federal Government to collaborate with him in the adoption of the technology across board, adding that there is a high rate of misconception on the major causes of the conflicts.

He noted that his organisation has properly dissected each component involved in the crisis before coming up with the resolute 4.0 technology to address the major issues causing the crisis.

Similarly, the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has applauded the initiative, saying it would foster peaceful co-existence and cooperation between herders and farmers.

“We are in support of your traceability initiative for tracking cattle by way of GPS and we are looking forward to collaborating with you,” Baba Othman Ngelzema, national secretary, MACBAN said in a statement seen by BusinessDay.

“We assure you our highest regards, support and cooperation as you have also shown neutrality and deep understanding in assessing the matter,” Ngelzema said.

Nigeria loses about $2.3 million (N828 million) annually due to the conflict between farmers and herdsmen, according to a Mercy Corps 2015 report, and states where these conflicts take place lose an average of 47 percent of tax generated internally.

These conflicts sack farmers and destroy agro raw materials such as oranges, mangoes, pineapples, cassava, pears, tomatoes, grains, oil seeds, wheat and other commodities.

This has forced a decline in the crops majorly produced by these states.

 

Josephine Okojie