FG sets up committee for grazing reserves for herdsmen
The Federal Government on Friday inaugurated a technical committee on grazing reserves in Nigeria.
According to the government, the committee would work out modalities for establishing additional grazing reserves across the country to forestall future clashes between herdsmen and farmers.
It also mandated the committee to produce a report on how to address the challenges within two weeks beginning from Friday.
The Federal Government on Friday inaugurated a technical committee on grazing reserves in Nigeria.
According to the government, the committee would work out modalities for establishing additional grazing reserves across the country to forestall future clashes between herdsmen and farmers.
It also mandated the committee to produce a report on how to address the challenges within two weeks beginning from Friday.
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi
Adesina, who formally inaugurated the committee at the ministry's headquarters in Abuja, said the committee was made up of representativesfrom the Federal Ministries of Environment, Works, Science and Technology, Interior, and Water Resources.
Other representativesinclude officials from the National Orientation Agency, International Institute of Livestock Agency and commissioners of agriculture from the affected states, among others.
Adesina said there was the need for additional reserves as rising
urbanisation had encroached into most of the grazing lands in Nigeria.
He observed that livestock farmers were increasing the pressure on
grazing reserves, adding that herdsmen from Chad and Niger often migrate into Nigeria to deplete the already limited grazing sites.
He said, "Another challenge we face with respect to our grazing
reserves is the issue of climate change. Herdsmen, as a result of
climatic changes, are forced to move down south with their cattle.
"And in addressing these challenges, there are short, medium and long
term solutions. This committee will look at all of them and given the urgency of the matter, the committee does not have more than two weeks
to come out with its report."
Adesina stated that 415 grazing reserves are in Nigeria while 141 of the sites had been gazetted. He stressed that additional grazing
reserves would help curtail the ugly clashes between herdsmen and farmers in most states of the north.
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