The Federal Government through the National Agency for the Great Green Wall, NAGGW has rolled out capacity building and training programme on Pilot Cattle Ranch, Fodder farm 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 OON said the training with the theme: Cattle Ranching for Sustainable Development and National Security is necessary to curb incessant clash between farmers and herders and to also adapt to climate change. He disclosed this today in Nguru, Nguru LGA 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 clash between farmers and herders and have resulted to several deaths and loss of lives and properties, displacements, resettlements etc. And in recognition of this National Agency for the Great Green Wall has 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 he added.
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.
Earlier, the National president of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, Alhaji Baba Othman Ngelzarma said that, fully supported ranching with the necessary infrastructure and other social amenities would boost 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 scarcity of land for grazing, increase in population forms major cause of conflict between the two groups of farmers/animals and plants. He urged the Federal Government to do more in supporting them in order to curtail the conflict.
The training will last for three days and will feature Technical sessions where lecture will be given and also practical in Livestock Breeding Management, Demonstration of Climate Smart Agriculture Practices and Orchard Plantation using the Half/Moon planting method.
Mrs Sule Pauline
Head, Information and Corporate
Communications Unit
