Prof. Adesina Oladapo Aderibigbe is a USA-trained, professor of Comparative Animal Nutrition, with almost four decades of post-doctoral teaching and research. Aderibigbe, who teaches at the Obafemi Awolowo University’s Department of Animal Sciences (ANS), is calling on the Federal Government Adopt an academic approach to resolve herdsmen/farmer skirmishes in which many have died. He spoke to ADEGUNLE OLUGBAMILA
Why did you believe that the academia is the best to seek ways out of ranching and herdsmen problems in Nigeria?
Academics, who are in the business of thinking and conducting research to advance knowledge and solve societal problems are in the best position to find lasting solutions to ranching herdsmen-farmers clashes. Professional animal scientists possess comprehensive knowledge of traditional and modern systems of cattle (and other livestock) production and management, and are capable of providing appropriate and prompt intervention not only to solve the problem, but develop and modernise the Nigerian cattle Industry. Some of the appropriate facilities and equipment for this purpose including indisputable land resources, are available in the various universities farms, which are currently being used mainly to train students, can be upgraded and used for practical demonstrations of the appropriate solutions to the problem for all to see and adopt.Implementation, monitoring and sustainability of the proffered solutions outside the universities, are also best done by professional academics specialised in the area as done in more developed countries.
The herdsmen-farmers clashes have become a serious national problem. What are the causes of these clashes?
Many of the identified causes have been reported. But I think agriculture, which used to be the major contributor to Nigeria economy, had been neglected since the 1970’s when oil revenue replaced it. The traditional nomadic open grazing system, using stock routes from north to south, established in the 1950’s, continues to be practised. However, increased population growth has resulted in loss of grazing land to cultivated farmland, urbanisation and settlements; pressure on water resources and blockage of transhumance routes used by the pastoralists.
What are the appropriate solutions to the herdsmen-farmers clashes and the development of the Nigeria agricultural sector in general?
Starting with the latter part of the question, the Nigeria agricultural sector (including livestock) must be given its well-deserved attention to diversify the Nigeria economy away from dependence on oil revenue; in terms of adequate budgetary allocation, ease of access to land and equipment for agriculture; and other incentives such as low-interest loans, grants, tax incentives etc. Although attention given to the sector had increased in recent years, much more still has to be done in view of our current estimated population of 192.3 million, which continues to rise.
Other solutions would include: strengthening security; establishment and implementation of conflict mediation and peace building mechanisms between farmers and pastoralists; establishment of grazing reserves for pastoralists; resuscitation of river basin authorities, especially in the north to grow forages for animal grazing; and permanent settlements of pastoralists in ranches, among others.
What are the most ideal modern beef cattle ranching Nigeria can adopt?
I will recommend three. They are cow-calf operation, stocker programme and feedlot or cattle finishing program.
In Nigeria, the cow-calf and stocker programmes are combined under the traditional nomadic open grazing system, while the feedlot programme is at best in its infancy.
With university assistance and some personal fund, I established a pilot 50-head capacity cattle feedlot in OAU in 2015, which is being used for teaching, research and, as demonstration ranch for practising and prospecting cattle farmers, businessmen and so on to date. Finished cattle are sold life or slaughtered and the high quality beef sold to members of the OAU community at very low price.
You suggested ranching as a generally accepted way of solving the herdsmen-farmers clashes. Can you provide some enlightenment on ranching?
Yes. In fact, the National Economic Council (NEC) initiated the National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP) in June 2018 as an effort to end herdsmen-farmers clashes, with a N70 billion budget for the three-year pilot phase and N179 billion over 10 years. Participating states were required to donate land for establishing the ranches, while pastoralists would be registered and recognised as cooperatives for the purpose of the ranch scheme. However, some states listed have rejected the scheme, perceiving it as a move by the Federal Government to grab lands to favour outsiders.
Leave a Reply