Ekiti govt moves to address farmer/herder crisis

The Ekiti State government has reiterated its resolve to address the lingering farmer/herder crisis by creating a business model for pasture development in the state.

The commissioner for agriculture and food security, Ebenezer Boluwade, explained that the government is determined to add greater value to livestock production through the year-round availability of pasture for the livestock value chains.

The commissioner, who was represented by the director of Animal husbandry in the ministry, Anthony Alofe, spoke while declaring open a week-long training organised by the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES) for no fewer than 120 participants in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, tagged ‘ Training on Business Model for Pasture Development’.

He noted the government would work alongside other stakeholders in ensuring sustainable food security and peaceful co-existence in line with the Governor Biodun Oyebanji-led administration’s shared prosperity agenda.

“Pasture establishment is an emergent economy value chain in the livestock sub-sector. Pastures (grasses) such as Brachiaria, Napia and legume (stylosanthes) are grown just like cereals or grains, with a maturity of 3-4 months, with a strong adaptive nature to survive all year-round under the prevailing climatic conditions in our dear state.

“Pasture business has the potential to provide sustainable jobs for our youths in areas of establishment, zero grazing (cut and carry), hay and silage making, preservation and storage of hay.

“Farmer/herder crisis has been a perennial problem over time, mainly occasioned by a shortage of forages, most especially during the dry season. In a desperate search for food for their animals, the herders resort to transhumance, i.e. moving from up north down to the southern part of the country, mostly resulting in invading arable crop farms to graze their animals, thereby causing destruction to farms and farmlands.

“This most time results in reprisal attacks, and this has degenerated over the years to different vices like cattle rustling, maiming and recently kidnapping, which has been a big threat to the security of the country.

“To mitigate this menace and create economic opportunities from the threats, it is high time to strategically create a business model for pasture development suitable to meet the needs of herders and cattle owners in our Local Government Areas.

“Your role as livestock farmers is to give value addition to the livestock value chain through good animal husbandry practices and also boost the economy of our State by harnessing the economic values in the livestock sub-sector,” he said.

Speaking, the Ekiti State Coordinator of L-PRES, Olayinka Adedipe, said the training was organised to end the menace of crisis between herders and the farmers through the production of pasture for the herds to feed.

He added that it would also help in exposing the livestock farmers and youths to the opportunities in the pasture value chain for economic development and achieving food security.

The lead consultant for the training and system agronomist, Dr Akeem Ajeigbe, said feed is key to having sustainable livestock production, hence the training and as well as resolve the perennial menace of herders and farmers clashes in the society.

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