The Oyo , Ebonyi and Edo states are the three States in the Southern part of Nigeria, out the 10 states selected by the Federal Government for take-off of the first phase of the national ranching project. Other states are Adamawa, Benue, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Taraba, Zamfara, and Plateau states.
Recall that on Tuesday, June 19, the National Economic Council (NEC) chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, approved a 10-year National Livestock Plan, which will cost about N179 billion, being part of recommendations of NEC's sub-committee headed by David Umahi, Ebonyi State Governor, on herdmen- farmer’s clash across the country.
Dr. Andrew Kwasari, Secretary of the NEC Sub-Committee, speaking on the National Livestock Transformation Plan, revealed that the Federal Government and states would spend N70bn in the first three years of the pilot phase of the programme.
He further revealed that the N179bn would be spent over a period of 10 years on the national livestock implementation.
The Sub-Committee Secretary said, “The National Livestock Implementation Plan is a mediation stemming from meetings and recommendations of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and NEC in 2017 as regards state interventions following the incessant pastoralist-farmer conflicts.”
“The NEC approved the pilot implementation of the Federal Government-States Joint Ranching Policy as recommended by the sub-committee in April, 2018.
“The transition from pastoralism to ranching would, among other benefits, improve genetic material of indigenous cattle for milk and meat production.
Kwasari said that it would also provide “critical market access” and better linkages between smallholder livestock producers and investors in agriculture technology.
He stated that government would engage the private sector and other countries “to work with Nigerian research institutes in developing national cattle breeds for dairy and beef production over a 10 years period.
“The plan envisages cross-breeding scheme with exotic semen of Brahman on Sokoto/Adamawa Guadli for beef cattle, while Holstein Friesian/Jersey will be used to cross breed Bunaji.”
Explaining access to finance and market, Kawasari, said, among other methods, the anchor –borrower approach used for crop farmers would be adopted in the ranching model.
He said that the ministry of agriculture had submitted a memo on the legal framework of the ranching plan to the FG, adding that the pilot scheme would be financed by government, but a massive private sector investment of N100bn is envisaged between the third and 10th year.
Meanwhile, Mr Oyewole Oyewumi, Commissioner for Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development, had earlier in anreport published by Tribune newspaper disclosed that the adoption of the mode of cattle rearing was one that guaranteed an enclosure for cattle, no matter its number.
He said, “As a policy of the Oyo State Government today, we encourage ranching over any other method of cattle production and development. We have heard talks about grazing reserves and recently about cattle colonies.
"They sound very strange to us, especially the issue of cattle colonies been muted by the Federal Government. But, we await further explanations as to what cattle colony is.
“What is critical to us as a state is that having cattle in an enclosed and controlled area. So, if the cattle colonies envisage a situation where the colony consists of an enclosure, no matter how large, where the movement of cattle is controlled, we may look at it. But, if it is to be an open area where cattle will be allowed to walk around in a free range, I don’t think the Oyo State Government will accommodate that,” Oyewumi said.
The Oyo State Commissioner for Agric disclosed that the state would soon have the Oyo state grazing control law aimed at establishing the state’s authority over cattle development and empowering the Ministry of Agriculture to designate land for ranching purposes.
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