Ranching, open grazing will end farmers, herders crisis – Adamawa commissioner

The Adamawa State Commissioner of Livestock, Alhaji Tijani Maksha, has commended the Professor Attahiru Jega’s panel for recommending ranching and open grazing as the best option that will put an end farmers and herders protracted crisis across the country.

The commissioner who spoke with Arewa PUNCH exclusively on Thursday, in Yola, said that marring the two schemes together will help pastorals to choose the option that is best for them.

“It will be difficult to introduce ranching today and abolish open grazing overnight, which it is a traditional practice of herders,” he said.

He added, “When I was commissioner for livestock under former governor Murtala Nyako, he created three ranching areas, each senatorial district got one, so that herders in those senatorial districts settled in one place.”

Maksha disclosed that the essence was to bring together herders and farmers for close interactions and peaceful coexistence and to enable herders’ children to go to school together with farmers’ children.

The livestock commissioner who commended President Bola Tinubu for creating the Federal Ministry of Livestock, pointed out that the action will not only boost the economy sector, but that will help to develop the livestock sector to international level.

“Livestock contributes 35 per cent to the economy of the country. It is the highest, and it creates more jobs for women and youths that engage in livestock business,” he stated.

“With time, everyone rearing animals will discover that ranching pays better, and they will embrace it without being told to do so,” he said.

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