Minister blames herders violence on lack of attention
– The Nigerian federal agriculture minister has spoken about cattle herders
– He believes a lack of opportunity and attention causes their bloody rampages
– Chief Audu Ogbeh was speaking at a World Bank event for West African nations
Chief Ogbeh said a lack of attention causes herdsmen to go on the rampage
West African agriculture ministers have been urged to work together to find solutions to the myriad problems facing the region, including rampaging cattle herders.
The Nigerian Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, made this call during a meeting with a delegation from the World Bank led by the vice president for the African region, Mr Mukhtar Diop, in Abuja recently.
“We could have a beautiful future in Africa, if we organize ourselves very well,” Ogbeh said.
He said the issue of cattle grazing in livestock production had posed serious problems to West African countries, resulting to violence between farmers and herdsmen.
He stated that the attention of the governments had focused on only some farming segments, such as rice, cotton, soya bean farmers.
“Nobody had remembered to do anything for the cattle farmers who now resorted to self-help that often leads to violence.”
Chief Ogbeh thanked the World Bank for its support of Nigeria, including agriculture over the years, and solicited for more support, particularly in livestock production.
He expressed the urgent need for the World Bank to support the West Africa countries to solve the problem of cattle grazing and livestock production.
“It is time for West Africa to stop cattle roaming so that the production of milk will rise while the Fulani herdsmen will live a normal life.”
a Attacks by irate herdsmen have killed hundreds recently
The minister also sought for support from the World Bank in the Agricultural Value Chain, packaging and standardization of agricultural produce, agricultural mechanization and seed quality among others.
He said there was need for Nigeria to have an all- year- round farming practice by harvesting three crops of maize and two crops of rice annually in order to catch up with the needs of population growth, which he puts at 450 million by the year 2050.
He maintained that the Labour Intensive Family Enterprise of the federal government which is on course would create wealth and jobs to the rural youth and women, as well as reduce rural-urban migration.
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