Cattle dealers, other stakeholders commend Delta govt for bill to ban open grazing

Stakeholders in the livestock business in Delta State have commended the state government in its efforts to regulate the sector and prohibit open grazing in the state.

The stakeholders include the state cattle dealers and rearers association, butchers union, plantain and banana growers and women farmers.

They made their positions known at the one day public hearing on the bill for a law to regulate livestock breeding, rearing and marketing and to prohibit open grazing and related matters before the state house of assembly held in Asaba, on Monday, even as they turned in their recommendations.

The state ministries of agriculture and natural resources, Environment, Justice and Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) also presented their papers.

The cattle dealers had in their memorandum signed by the chairman, Alhaji Musa Adamu Shuwa said “the association was happy to partner with the state government on its plan to ban open grazing for the reason the act of open grazing by cattle has unfortunately generated serious security challenges not only in Delta State but the whole nation.

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“As an association, we are happy to report that none of our members has been fingered in the atrocities occasioned by open grazing and we often collaborate with security agencies whenever we are needed as part of efforts to curb these security challenges.”

The cattle dealers, however, demanded designated areas for livestock breeding, rearing and markets in the 25 council areas of the state.

According to them, the designated area should not be less than 30,000 square metres as against 5,000 square metres being proposed in the bill, arguing that “every week each of the designated area receives over 800 cattle.”

Members of the Butchers union in their submission called for the creation of ranches/farms for breeders and butchers adding that cattle breeding should be licensed by the state government while those doing the business outside the ranches/farms be penalised.

Earlier Chairman of the joint committee of special bills, agriculture and natural resources of the house, Hon (Barr.) Pat Ajudua sought the cooperation of all for the house to come out with a law that will bring peace to both those interested in the livestock business and the people of the state.

She said many enemies in cattle business had infiltrated into the system causing problems to the society adding that the bill would fish out the trouble makers and allow genuine herdsmen to operate freely.

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE