The proposal to introduce a bill in the National Assembly to establish a National Grazing Commission is the solution that MACBAN and its supporters believe will end the frequent clashes between farmers and nomadic pastoralists in the country. The idea implies that free-range grazing is a tenable proposition in the 21st century. The concept requires proper scrutiny before the country unwittingly creates a problem that is capable of consuming everybody due to escalation in the number of land conflicts in the country.
Research has established that until a few decades ago, cattle rearing was mainly prevalent in the Guinea, Sudan and Sahel Savannah belts where crop production was carried out only during the short rainy season on a small scale. This, researchers say, gave the cattle herders access to a vast area of grassland. As time went on, and with the introduction of irrigated farming in the Savannah belt of Nigeria, and the increased withering of pasture during the dry season, less pasture was available to cattle herders. The herdsmen had to move southward to the coastal zone where the rainy season is longer and the soil retains moisture for long, in search of pasture and water – a movement called transhumance. The large number of wild animals and the fear of losing animals to diseases, especially trypanosomiasis, prevented herders from settling permanently in the humid zone.
Today, the southward movement of pastoral herds into the humid and sub-humid zones, promoted by the successful treatment of cattle diseases, has led to conflicts between farmers and nomads in states like Anambra, Edo and Delta.
By May 2013, the menace of nomadic pastoralists had become so unbearable that the Delta State government directed that any cattle rearer who allowed his cattle to destroy farm crops or kill or cause bodily harm to farmers in the state would be arrested and expelled. Speaking with journalists at the end of the state security council meeting held in Oghara, Ovuozorie Macaulay, Secretary to the State Government, said the government was worried at the increasing act of criminal activities of cattle readers in the state, adding that Hausa-Fulani leaders in any community where such acts were carried out would be made to fish out the erring cattle rearer.
“The meeting has decided to arrest and expel any Hausa-Fulani cattle rearer that allows his cattle to destroy farm crops or kill or cause harm to any farmer in this state. The Hausa-Fulani leaders in such communities will be made to fish out the culprits,” Macaulay said.
Global practice favours confining animals including cattle, sheep and goats to large farms and ranches fenced with barbed wire. There they graze on green vegetation plus bundles of dry grasses (hay), corn (maize) and other edibles specially prepared for them. It is strange that in the 21st century, domestic animals are still permitted to wander freely and graze in unlimited open spaces. They are certainly not permitted to trample and chew up farms, resulting in bloody battles between cattlemen and farmers. In due course, the animals are transported to the market or slaughterhouse, not by trekking but by truck or train. Nigeria must adopt this modern practice of animal rearing and keep the peace all through the federation between farmers and cattlemen. States that have large populations of cattle should restrict grazing reserves to their states.
The attempt by nomadic pastoralists to claim land rights in every state in Nigeria has serious implications for land governance and administration. These are technical issues that deserve expert committees to be appointed by government to study and recommend urgent action. The idea of a Gombe farmer claiming overlapping land rights in my farm at Sapele must not be glossed over.
[Concluded]
Weneso Orogun
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