The plan to set up modern ranching settlements is overdue
In a renewed push to end recurring farmer-herder clashes and transform the livestock sector in the country, the federal government has announced plans to rehabilitate 417 grazing reserves and establish modern ranching settlements in six major conflict-prone areas. The Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha listed the flashpoint states of Benue, Plateau, Nasarawa, Kaduna and Adamawa, as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as priority areas, adding that a pilot scheme in Plateau State is already on to test a livestock production model aimed at reducing cattle movement.
To secure the buy-in of critical stakeholders, the government has sought the support of the Grand Patron of Miyetti Allah, Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, and consulted pastoral communities for the transition from nomadic livestock production to ranching. Nomadic livestock production is becoming increasingly unsustainable because of disappearing grazing routes due to farming, urbanisation and infrastructure development. The ministry therefore envisaged a ranching model that would transform grazing reserves into economic communities with housing, veterinary clinics, schools, healthcare facilities, solar power and earth dams for pasture irrigation.
