Livestock: Checkmate cattle routes not ministry creation, experts advice FG

 The experts in the Livestock sub sector of Agriculture have advised Federal Government (FG) against the creation of any other ministry saying the cattle routes should be rather properly manned to avoid clashes.One of them who spoke with Food Farm News punctured the idea of isolating the Livestock ministry from Agric in view of policy synergy for better productivity along the value chains of the sub sector.

The expert who wanted to remain anonymous said that FG should have intensified effort in well monitoring of the cattle routes where millions of cattle were passing into the country without being checked, pointing they were the people causing mayhem in the country. 

According to him, the creation of the new livestock ministry might not address the root cause of the conflict between farmers/herders, saying that a better management of cattle routes that allowed over 2.8 million cattle entering Nigeria from countries like Togo, Niger, Mali, Comeroon, and Senegal annually should rather be well monitored by the security agents.

The source said that " Nobody has an idea of how they get to Nigeria, but all these need to be checked. The government needs to have data on those coming into Nigeria through the cattle routes and what they are bringing in"

He noted that effective monitoring of the routes would prevent attack in Wanwan Zange in Bauchi State where cattle rustling by unknown herders were rampant .

This source emphasized the importance of deploying the Agro Rangers unit to safeguard farmers in these vulnerable areas saying that "It is believed that many herders entering the country through those routes might be influenced to infiltrate and cause mayhem. Therefore, channeling the Agro Rangers unit to such areas is crucial for the safety of farmers”.

He stressed that the dairy industry contributes significantly to nutrition and food security by supplying essential proteins and vitamins through milk and other derivatives, such as cheese, yoghurt, and butter. And efficient cold-chain logistics are crucial in maintaining the quality and safety of these perishable goods from farms to markets to prevent wastages. 

Another expert who spoke under cover pointed that there is a need for the government to critically look into the experience base of whosoever would be heading the new ministry as the person needs to be conversant with the happenings of the sub sector and not being appointed base on friendship or political reasons.

He disclosed that the livestock sector is a very important industry that needs to be carefully followed up, most especially with the unending clashes between the farmers and herders adding that the creation of the ministry will require a lot.