FG trains farmers, herders on cattle ranching, others

The Federal Government through the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW), has rolled out a capacity building and training programme on Pilot Cattle Ranching, Fodder farming and Orchard Plantation to foster peaceful coexistence between farmers and herders.

The Director General, National Agency for the Great Green Wall, Dr. Yusuf Maina Bukar, said the training with the theme: Cattle Ranching for Sustainable Development and National Security is necessary to curb incessant clashes between farmers and herders and to also adapt to climate change.

He disclosed this in Nguru, Nguru Local Government Area of Yobe State while declaring the training opened.

Maina Bukar said that a nexus between climate change and conflicts has been established which has induced clashes between farmers and herders and have resulted in several deaths and loss of lives and properties, displacements and resettlements.

He stressed that in recognition of this, the National Agency for the Great Green Wall developed a survival mechanism in accordance with its Strategic Action Plan through the establishment of Cattle Ranch, Fodder Farm and Orchard Farm Model in order to strengthen and enhance the capacity of affected victims to pursue their individual needs without hindrance.

In his remarks the Emir of Nguru, HRH Alhaji Mai Mustapha Ibn Kyari expressed his happiness and also embraced the initiative which will bring peace amongst the people living in his emirate and will also foster good and mutual relationship between the farmers and the herders.

The National President of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, Alhaji Baba Othman Ngelzarma said that, fully supporting ranching with the necessary infrastructure and other social amenities would boost the economy and enhance peaceful coexistence. Therefore, issues of farmers and herders clash will be a thing of the past.

Also, the Chairman Nguru Wetland Farmers Cooperative Society, Abba Liman in his goodwill message disclosed that the scarcity of land for grazing, increase in population forms major causes of conflict between the two groups. He urged the Federal Government to do more in supporting them in order to curtail conflicts.