A process that will bring to an end of the farmers and herders clashes in Nigeria has begun, as the Federal government is developing a policy document that would ensure availability, accessibility and affordability of Feeds and Fodders, which are the main cause of dispute between farmer and herders in the country.
Speaking at a validation workshop In Abuja, the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar-Maiha, said the Feeds and Fodders subsector hold the key to ensure peaceful coexistence amongst farmers and herders, as well as double national herd to 398.9 million heads, and drive growth in national GDP from $32 billion to $74 billion by 2035.
In Nigeria, violent clashes between farmers and herders over access to water, feeds and land in several States has put food production at risk, significant loss of lives and displacement of communities.
This underscores the need for actionable solutions that would put an end to the growing conflicts.
While some State governments have attempted to address the conflict through legislations, such as banning open grazing and promoting ranching, these measures have often been met with resistance, resulting in poor implementation of such laws and programmes.
Having identified the importance of Feeds and Fodder in tackling the persistent farmer-herder conflicts, the Nigerian Federal government brought together stakeholders to dialogue and validate the Policy document that would guide the process for sustainable production, market access, research and peaceful coexistence.
Participants emphasized the need for more functional Feed and Fodder subsector policy implementation and enforcement that will drive increased production and affordable livestock sourced foods.
For them, this gathering marks a major step forward in collective efforts to reposition the livestock sector as a key contributor to national food security, rural livelihoods, and economic diversification.
Editor: Ken Eseni
