FG plans national conference to address farmers/herdsmen clashes

The minister who informed that the conference would be held in June stated that other stakeholders that will participate in the conference include policy makers, the security agencies, Ministry of Interior and the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN.

The Minister also expressed concern over the damaging  effects of the clashes on dairy business and loss of lives. He stated however,  that the government had earlier appealed to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) to analyse the root causes of the clashes in the country, hence the submission of the report.

“The issue of herdsmen and farmers clashes and the big question of grazing reserves and ranches done by the committee is being addressed by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

“The committee has been working on this matter for two weeks and they brought the summary of their report today.

“We have looked at it to see how we can finally deal with this problem. We don’t like the conflicts and we do not want them to continue.

“We have to solve the problem and we will solve the problem,” Ogbeh said.

Rabe Mani, the Assistant FAO Representative in Nigeria, Programme, said that access to land, capital, market, infrastructure, inputs and manpower were needed to improve the livestock production in the country.

He said the committee recommended at least a 10-year national livestock or ranch development plan to establish milestones and targets.

According to him, the reason for the plan is to aid entrenchment for implementation.

“We facilitated this team. We engaged a cross section of stakeholders ranging from state commissioners, traditional producers, practicing ranchers, people directly in the marketing of livestock products across the country.”

Baba Ngalzarma, the National Secretary of MACBAN, applauded the recommendation saying it would help to solve the problems being faced by its members if implemented.