In the wake of the frequent violent clashes between farmers and herders in Nigeria, the federal government is considering establishing cow colonies for herders to rear their animals.
The government said that creating cattle colony will provide a more permanent solution to unending clashes between roaming herdsmen and local communities.
In addition, the creating cattle colonies will also cause improvement in animal production, animal health care delivery, processing and marketing.
READ ALSO: 4 feared dead, houses destroyed in fresh suspected herdsmen attack in Adamawa
However, mixed reactions have trailed the proposal for cattle colonies. Some states like Benue and Taraba, which have experienced clashes between farmers and herdsmen, have rejected the proposal, while others like Kogi supported it.
Interestingly, the origin of the coinage "cattle colony" can be traced to Pakistan. According to Wikipedia: “Cattle colony is one of the neighbourhoods of Bin Qasim Town in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. This neighbourhood of Karachi is the centre of cattle and meat trade in Karachi. The cattle colony is the dairy products shopping and supply centre of Karachi. There are also many abattoirs and meat warehouses located in the cattle colony.”
The string of abattoirs and warehouses that are established in Pakistan’s cattle colony show that it is entirely a market for beef cattle.
In the Pakistani sense, cattle colony is like a shopping complex where cattle and meat trade are carried out.
A cattle colony where cattle and meat are traded in Pakistan. Credit: Tribune.com.pk
However, there are some differences in how the Nigerian government plans to domesticate cattle colony initiative the country.
In this piece, NAIJ.com provides four basic facts about the proposed cattle colony:
1. What the colonies will look like
The colonies, according to the federal government, will be bigger than ranches and will be able accommodate up to 30 ranchers. The cattle colony, according to the government, will be able to accommodate between 100 and 300 cows owned by different individuals.
A herd of cattle kept in a ranch. Credit: New Telegraph Online
2. Reasons for the cattle colonies
The establishment of the cattle colonies, according to the federal government is expected to serve two purposes: one, to address the clashes between farmers and herdsmen in the country; two, to improve animal production, animal health care delivery, processing and marketing in the country.
Some herdsmen with their cattle grazing in a local community. The federal government is proposing cattle colony to stop this old tradition. Photo Credit: Daily Post
3. How the cattle colonies will be set up
The cattle colonies will be set up and funded by the federal government while state governments are expected to volunteer land for the project.
The cattle colony is expected to be funded by the federal government in partnership with state governments. Phot credit: Twitter.
4. States that have accepted the cattle colony proposal
According to the federal government, 13 states have offered about 5,000 hectares each to help actualise the cattle colony plan. Though the government has not revealed the names of the states that have embraced the project, the governors of Plateau and Kogi states have declared their support for cattle colony.
Kogi state governor, Yahaya Bello, and his Plateau counterpart, Simon Lalong, has accepted the cattle colony initiative. Photo credit: Twitter
An earlier piece by NAIJ.com provides nine important facts to know about the herders-farmers conflicts in the country.
The herders-farmers clashes, according to one of the facts highlighted, can be situated in the context of other ethnic conflicts, attributed to actors primarily divided along fault lines of cultural, ethnic, or religious communities and identities.
Another fact highlighted in the piece states that herder-farmer conflicts usually involve disputes over land and/or cattle between herders (in particular the Fulani or Hausa) and farmers, in particular, the Tiv or Taro.
What should the federal govt do to tackle the herdsmen attacks in the country? - on NAIJ.com TV:
Source: Naija.ng
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