THE RENEWED CASE FOR CATTLE RANCHING

The plan to set up modern ranching settlements is overdue

In a renewed push to end recurring farmer-herder clashes and transform the livestock sector in the country, the federal government has announced plans to rehabilitate 417 grazing reserves and establish modern ranching settlements in six major conflict-prone areas. The Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha listed the flashpoint states of Benue, Plateau, Nasarawa, Kaduna and Adamawa, as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as priority areas, adding that a pilot scheme in Plateau State is already on to test a livestock production model aimed at reducing cattle movement.

To secure the buy-in of critical stakeholders, the government has sought the support of the Grand Patron of Miyetti Allah, Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, and consulted pastoral communities for the transition from nomadic livestock production to ranching. Nomadic livestock production is becoming increasingly unsustainable because of disappearing grazing routes due to farming, urbanisation and infrastructure development. The ministry therefore envisaged a ranching model that would transform grazing reserves into economic communities with housing, veterinary clinics, schools, healthcare facilities, solar power and earth dams for pasture irrigation.

We have on several occasions made this point: In the history of humanity, the stage of development at which man wandered for a livelihood belongs to the stone age. It was in the bid to stem the incessant violent clashes between herdsmen and farmers, that almost all the states in the southern part of the country as well as two states in the North (Benue and Taraba) banned open grazing by livestock. With little variations that take care of peculiarities in these states, the law prohibits movement of livestock and open grazing as well as the carrying of firearms or other offensive weapons by herders. But to end the nomadic culture, we need a short, medium and long-term plans that would involve all the stakeholders.

It is heartwarming that the real conversation about how to modernise the way we rear cattle in the country has started, especially considering the threat nomadism continues to pose to our national security. When in August 2021 former President Muhammadu Buhari insisted on his controversial pledge to revive the contentious grazing routes for herders, the decision pitted him against sections of the country where open grazing has been banned because of the criminality and insecurity associated with it. As we argued then, even if the grazing routes were still valid, they can only facilitate further clashes between settler farmers and migrant herders. Besides, by allowing some people, including foreigners, to roam the length and breadth of Nigeria, our territorial integrity is being violated. We also violate the rights of these animals and endanger the health of citizens through exposure to the elements and a cocktail of diseases.  

While migrant cattle herding has ceased in most parts of the world, it is unfortunate that Nigeria is still saddled with the problem. Modern ranches have replaced roving herds while beef production has become a modern mechanised industrial undertaking.  Breed improvement would enable herders to keep fewer but more productive animals, besides reducing pressure on land. The federal government should therefore create the platform for a wholesale discussion on the future of animal husbandry in relations to the transition from nomadism to ranching. A package of incentives, including soft loans, liberal access to land, training, and provision of inputs to herders and others can help facilitate the transition and ameliorate the challenges associated with it.

If done properly, we can then employ and re-train the herdsmen in modern settled cattle farming. The animals will be healthier; the handlers will earn decent incomes, have decent accommodation, own property, and have schools for their kids. Ancillary industries will also emerge, and employment opportunities will blossom. It is time to impose civilisation on cattle farming.