From Joseph Asegba, Yola
The Adamawa State government has a plan to end ranching and open grazing, the only option that will bring to an end farmers and herders in the nation.
Commissioner of Livestock Alhaji Tijani Maksha is the Commissioner of Livestock in the state. He commended Professor Attahiru Jega’s panel for recommending ranching and open grazing as the best option that will put an end to farmers’ and herders’ protracted crisis across the country.
Maksha disclosed this in an interview with Arewa Punch in Yola and said that marrying the two schemes together will help pastorals choose the option that is best for them.
He accordingly said, “It will be difficult to introduce ranching today and abolish open grazing overnight, which is a traditional practice of herders”.
The commissioner noted, “When I was commissioner for livestock under former governor Murtala Nyako, he created three ranching areas, each senatorial district got one so that herders in those senatorial districts settled in one place.”
This, he said, Bago’s agricultural revolution under threat as bandits kill 13 farmers. Maksha revealed that the essence was to bring together herders and farmers for close interactions and peaceful coexistence and to enable herders’ children to go to school together with farmers’ children.
The livestock commissioner, who commended President Bola Tinubu for creating the Federal Ministry of Livestock, pointed out that the action will not only boost the economy sector but will help develop the livestock sector to an international level.
“Livestock contributes 35 per cent to the economy of the country. It is the highest, and it creates more jobs for women and youths that engage in livestock business”.
He predicts that a “ time will come when everyone rearing animals will discover that ranching pays better, and they will embrace it without being told to do so.”