FG HOLDS CONFERENCE TODAY TO END FARMERS, HERDSMEN FEUD

THE Federal government will today hold a conference in an attempt to end the continued conflict between farmers and herdsmen across the country which has led to loss of lives and properties.

This conference which will be held in Abuja is expected to address the issue of access to land and land tenure system, other issues to be addressed at the conference include infrastructure, inputs and management strategies for sustainable livestock development and access to finance and market.

Addressing journalists in Abuja, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh said the conference was critical to addressing the challenges in the livestock sub sector.

According to him, “This conference has become critical in order to address the myriad of issues affecting the livestock sub sector which include the recurring and frequent crop farmers/pastoralists’ conflicts, cattle banditry resulting in wanton loss of lives, properties and the depletion of our national herd.

“Equally worrisome is the inability to tap into the abundant potentials in the sector hence the sub sector has not been fully explored in terms of supplying the animal protein needs of Nigerians, poverty alleviation, revenue generation and foreign exchange for the economy.”

Ogbeh, recalled that in view to diversify the economy through agriculture, the government recently launched the Agriculture Promotion Policy (APP), which also known as the Green Alternative.

“The APP revolves round building agribusiness economy capable of delivering sustained prosperity by meeting domestic food security goals, generating exports and supporting sustained income and job growth.

“The livestock component of this policy focuses on all aspects especially, beef, poultry and dairy production during the period 2016-2020.”

The minister therefore said, “Livestock is however bedeviled by many constraints which include: low productive breeds of livestock, conflicts between nomadic pastoral/transhumance system due to feed and fodder insecurity, income loss and human effects due to market/finance hinged on lack of quality and standards and poor infrastructure.”

The National Conference of the Transformation of Nigerian Livestock Industry will engage all stakeholders for continuous and sustained engagement and sensitisation especially for the pastoralists and crops farmers.