Editorial- Using D-8 on Halal meat to solve herdsmen and farmers’ clashes

 herdsmen

The daily recurrent of clashes between the farmers and herdsmen in the local communities  has brought the issue of the 2013 D-8 meeting held in Abuja into our focus as one of the measures that can be used to checkmate this menace as animals would be contained in a place for better meat fatling for more economic gain running to trillion pounds in the global market.  

Recently the issue of improved seeds importation for grass growing in the country by federal government has been generating series of attacks on the pages of the national newspapers and social media unabatedly despite the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh’s correction of the erroneous impressions. 

One factor is very clear which is the issue of herdsmen and crop farmers’ clashes in the country that is daily increasing with the need to proffer solution which is the responsibility of government which nobody can take away.

The search for a particular edible grass and water have turned the herdsmen’ pattern of lives to moving their animals from one country to another , and also state to state within a country which has to be given solution by government. 

We must not sheer away from the fact that Nigeria must be ready to give it what it takes to be among the leading meat producers of the world by way of doing things rightly through containment of the our animals’ movement through sufficient edible nutritious grasses as food provision with waters. 

At Abuja in 2013, the D-8 Agricultural Ministerial Meeting has stressed the need for members countries (Nigeria, Turkey, Iran, Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Malaysia and Pakistan) to establish seed bank, fertilizer investment fund, Halal meat investment commission and research development so as to be able to compete with western world in terms of standard products for potential market.

The question is how many of all these have we put in place to ensure more economic gains through the movement of processed meat rather than live animals. As much as we agree with importation of improved seeds varieties for growing  grasses as part of immediate plan to addressing clashes between herdsmen and farmers, we also strongly belief that all further suggestion of alternative means of feeds solutions as specified at the D-8 meeting held in Abuja be  upheld with further action.

We are aware through the Growth Enhancement Support of the FMARD that effort towards checkmating incessant clashes between the pastoral and farmers through capacity building  on the use of processed crops residue and by products to feed animals was highly promoted to an extent that must be sustained and continue as part of measures to improve on animals feeds.

In the Federal Government’ s spirited effort towards finding solution to animals and cow feeds, we are of the view that all local content alternative  possibilities must be exhausted before embarking on improved seeds for planting grasses in the country thereby reducing import bill that is already toll on our economy.