Farmers-herders conflict hindering Delta from being leading food producer – SA

…Calls for harmonious relationship between farmers, herdsmen for food security

Special Adviser to Delta State Governor on Livestock and Inter-ethnic Relations, Jeffrey Azagba, on Friday, lamented that conflicts between farmers and herders have hindered the state from being a leading food producer in the country.

“Delta State with its rich agricultural land and vast water resources has potentials to be a leading producer of food and economic growth, but often hindered by conflicts between farmers and herders.

He made the lamentation in his remarks at a one-day conference with theme “Promoting harmonious relationships between farmers and herdsmen for sustainable development in Delta State,” held at the Government House, Asaba.

“We have gathered here today at a time when our nation is grappling with the challenges of food security, economic growth and environmental sustainability.

“These conflicts, often fuelled by competition for land, water, and resources can have devastating consequences leading to loss of lives, destruction of property and displacement of communities.”

Read also: FG partners group to halt farmers/herders conflicts

He said that farmers and herdsmen are not supposed to be enemies but partners in the pursuit of food security and sustainable development.

He called for the establishment of farmers-herdsmen dialogue forum to facilitate regular meetings and negotiations between both groups.

Contributing, Special Adviser on Peace Building and Conflict Resolution, Edwin Uzor, frowned at the activities of armed herdsmen and recommended that anti-grazing laws be enforced in addition to implementation of ranching.

Uzor called for total disarming of all arm bearing herders, arrest of underaged herders, total retooling of Operation Delta Sweep to stamp out activities of criminal minded herdsmen, establishment of taskforces to man entry points into the state, profile herdsmen and identify dens of armed herdsmen.

He harped on peace between genuine herdsmen and host communities to strengthen peaceful coexistence.

In a paper delivered at the event, Daniel Ngboaraji, a professor, averred that the best way to minimise herders and farmers crisis was to identify real herders from criminally minded ones so as to hand the bad ones over to security operatives.

He advised herders to keep at bay anything capable of jeopardising peace and reminded host communities of the need to operate within the confines of the law.