Building ranches is the solution to herdsmen crisis - Commissioner

macfranc007 February 05, 2018 Nigeria News today & Breaking news ▷ Read Nigerian newspapers 24/7 Onyirioha Nnamdi

- The Taraba state commissioner for agriculture and rural development, David Kassa, advises government at all levels to assist herdsmen and livestock farmers for the development of agriculture in the nation

- Kassa states that the continuous conflict between herdsmen and crop farmers was causing a setback for the sector

- He urges the federal government to provide intervention funds which will help to curb frequent herdsmen-farmers clashes

David Kassa, the Taraba commissioner for agriculture and rural development, on Monday, February 5, advised herdsmen and other livestock farmers to form cooperative societies for easy intervention by the government.

Kassa told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jalingo that crop farmers and herdsmen who formed cooperative societies would be eligible to access government’s intervention to build their own ranches and curb frequent crises.

Kassa stated: “I want to advise herdsmen and other livestock farmers to form cooperative societies for easy identification and intervention by the government. Between five and 10 herdsmen can come together and build a ranch and mark their cows to live there.

“This can make for easy access to government’s intervention in terms of grants, soft loans and subsidies on animal feeds." He mentioned that ranching was the best form of rearing animals globally.

NAN reports that ranching is the practice of raising herds of animals on large tracts of land. Ranchers commonly raise grazing animals such as cattle and sheep. The commissioner advised government at all levels not to shy away from providing support to herdsmen and livestock farmers for the overall improvement in agriculture.

PAY ATTENTION: Get the Latest Nigerian News Anywhere 24/7. Spend less on the Internet!

He noted that the continuous conflict between herdsmen and crop farmers was causing a setback for everyone. Kassa decried the situation where the Middle Belt region of the country with a conducive climatic condition for agriculture had become a battle ground.

He said: “The Middle Belt region has the best climatic condition for both crop and animal production. Building ranches is the only way out of the terrible crisis we are facing as a nation. I will advise the federal government to make a legislation that will encourage ranching across the nation and to provide intervention funds to curb frequent crisis."

Meanwhile, NAIJ.com reported that at least 55 people were said to have been killed by suspected Fulani herdsmen in Lau local government area of Taraba state.

From reports gathered, 25 bodies were recovered and given a mass burial on Tuesday, January 9, when journalists and a media assistant to the governor, Bala Dan Abu, visited the affected area.

Who is Nigeria's greatest president ever? On NAIJ.com TV