Cattles feeding on crops in a farm in Markudi, Benue State. Credit: NA | X
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Livestock Development, Idris Ajimobi, on Wednesday, disclosed that his office, in collaboration with the Ministry of Livestock Development, had commenced the revival of grazing reserves and ranches across Nigeria so as to curb farmer-herder clashes.
He disclosed this during an interactive session with journalists in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. Ajimobi said work had already started on the Kawu Grazing Reserve in Abuja, adding that a nationwide audit of existing ranches and the 417 grazing reserves is ongoing to determine those that can be upgraded before new ones are established.
The SSA said, “It’s not just about teaching farmers modern ways of farming. If we teach without providing the necessary infrastructure, we are wasting our time. Our intention is to teach, revive the reserves we have, modernize them, and use them as a platform to begin the ranching system that the government wants. It has been successful in other countries, and it can be successful here.
“Then we have also begun reviving some of the grazing reserves. We started with Kawu Grazing Reserve in Abuja. We started the revival last year. We are hoping that it will be ready soon.
