FG to add value to livestock farming
The Minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbeh made the disclosure in Abuja at a press briefing on retreat on Livestock and Diary Development.
He explained that good animal husbandry practice, in addition to backward integration with research institutes and progressive technology providers would add greater value to the industry.
He revealed that the ministry is working on improved extension service, in addition provision of credit and other incentives to livestock practitioners to aid their business.
On the issue of violence by herdsmen , he said the ministry is going to work hard to solve the problem, “we must look upon the herdsmen a continuity in message toward national development. Cattle rearing doesn’t have to be an elusive business in the hands of Fulani’s, the problem is that Nigeria have not managed their cattle well enough, the herdsmen are also farmers. I know Nigerians are very angry with the violence that occurred in many states, that tends to see herdsmen as a an enemy”.
When asked on the issue of the bill, he posited that the government may not push the bill matter that hard, “we will not go and encroach any community and seize their land. About 11 states have offered us land and if we have the capacity to graze up those land areas, there may be no need of cattle roaming from North to South.
“The intention of the ministry is not to seize land from anybody. Nigeria should not be afraid that one group of people will come up and take their land. We want to develop an industry that can survive, nobody land will be taken by force. We will solve this problem in such a way that there will be peace.
“The cows need at least a hundred litters of water daily. If a cow is wondering from Kaduna to Lagos with a very little water how does the cow survive and if the herdsmen must be condemned to live in the bush, his wife and children, they are subject to snake bites, attack and kidnapping then he or she is not in a position to do what other herdsmen has done elsewhere,” he stated.