Farmers, Herdsmen Clashes May Break Nigeria – Reps

House of Representatives speaker, Yakubu Dogara, on Tuesday called for deliberate and proactive actions to end the incessant farmers and herdsmen clashes spreading across the country, which he noted could break Nigeria. Dogara made the observation at the opening of a public hearing on the motion on the ‘urgent need to address the incessant clashes between herdsmen, farmers and their host communities in Nigeria,’ and introduction of micro irrigation (drip irrigation) for farmers in Gombi/Hong Federal Constituency of Adamawa State and in other parts of Nigeria,’ held by House Committee on Agricultural Production and Services. According to BusinessDay, the speaker, who was represented by Onyema Chukwuka, assured that the Committee and stakeholders would make appropriate recommendations that would “go a long way in guiding the House in the enactment of appropriate legislation that will guarantee peaceful co-existence among the rural communities, provide affordable credit to Nigerian farmers, enable the farmer to procure fertilizer and other farm inputs with minimum effort, provide enabling environment for all season farming, ensure increased agricultural production both as a means of guaranteeing internal food security and diversifying the economy from over dependence on oil, among many other prospects.” In his presentation, Audu Ogbe, minister of agriculture and rural development, who expressed concern over criticism trailing proposed importation of grasses for cattle, especially on social media, warned that the challenge might boomerang if no concrete action was taken in checkmating the menace. According to Ogbe, 12 states of the federation out of the 36 states contacted by Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development have already confirmed readiness to partner on the grazing and irrigation initiatives, adding that nine states have agreed to provide 5,000 hectares of land each for the project. The minister added that private sector investors had started making money from the grazing programme, as the Federal Government in partnership with 70,000 rice farmers in Kebbi State had concluded arrangement to produce 1.5 million livestock feed for cattle through rice stalk. He also assured on plans to revitalise the existing 415 grazing locations across the country, majority of which are in Adamawa State, by providing requisite facilities, stressing that the Federal Government would embark on the implementation of the grazing project as soon as the 2016 budget was signed into law. He disclosed that provision of grazing would also reduce the $1.3 billion spent on powered milk, which he argued was unhealthy for children growth, and diversification policy of the Nigerian economy and food security. The minster lamented that Nigeria’s potential in cow production was dwindling with 15 million cow population with average milk production of 1 litre per cow daily, compared with 225 million in Brazil with average of 30 litre of milk per cow daily. In his remarks, Mohammed Munguno, chairman, House Committee on Agricultural Production and Services, observed that “the incessant clashes between farmers and herdsmen in various host communities across the country is a very topical issue that requires the intervention and input of various stakeholders.” This, he observed, will help to “nip in the bud the looming crisis in the board or totally eradicate the clashes because it has the potential of stalling diversification and good security as well as threaten the bedrock of the entity called Nigeria.” While expressing disgust over the resultant effects of the insecurity challenges caused by Boko Haram facing the country, the lawmaker condemned the death of thousands of innocent citizens including women, children and youths as well as the displacement of millions of Nigerians who sojourn in neighbouring countries and other states across the country. While commending the gallant efforts of the military in retiring peace to the North-East region, he observed that many of the communities and local governments have been liberated and people have started to rebuild their homes, pick up their lives and return to farms. Hence, he urged the Federal Government to provide intervention funds and farm inputs, including fertilizers and other incentives for the returnee IDPs. He also emphasised the need to initiate a legislative framework that would provide for stiff sanctions by increasing the punishment on those adulterating fertilizers, which impact negatively on farm outputs and threaten diversification policy of the Federal Government.