We introduced ranches to develop livestock, end farmers/herdsmen crisis —Lalong

Plateau State governor, Simon Lalong, has said his administration, in line with the disposition of the Federal Government, has decided to introduce ranches as a means of developing and growing livestock in the state and also end the crisis between farmers and herdsmen.

Lalong said not only that ranches would boost livestock farming; it would also put to an end the itinerant herdsmen, who often clashed with farmers in many parts of the Middle Belt and different parts of the country.

Speaking with newsmen  on Tuesday, at the General Aviation Terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, the  governor said his administration has sustained peace in the state through efforts aimed at promoting good neighbourliness and tolerance, adding that residents of the state who came from diverse ethnic groups, have been encouraged to live together in peace.

“What is on in Plateau State is the policy on ranches, which is quite different from grazing. Although, all of them have been there a long time ago; grazing has been there and ranches have been there, owned by individuals and organisations but the security problem we have across the nation and the need to diversify into agriculture make it necessary for the production of livestock in large quantities. So, you cannot leave that to only traditional grazing. That is why we introduced this policy of having ranches. The ranches are everybody’s business for growing livestock and not restricted to any ethnic group,”  he said.