The viability of FG’s ranching scheme

As one of the measures to address the incessant clashes between herders and farmers across the country, not less than eleven states have shown interest in federal government’s ranching scheme. The concerned states are Lagos, Plateau, Ondo, Zamfara, Bauchi, Delta, Niger, Kano, Jigawa, Nasarawa and Anambra. While some of them have allocated lands for the project, others have pledged to do so. A few states have also developed policies to make the scheme a viable business venture.

Lagos State had been developing its ranching system for years and was receptive to collaborating with the Federal Government and other stakeholders. Similarly, the scheme has received the nod of Zamfara State government. As one of the states seriously affected by framers/herders conflicts, the government says it is willing to support any initiative that would end the menace. Meanwhile, Nasarawa State government has also provided 22,000 hectares of land in Awe Local Government Area for the smooth take-off of the model ranching hub project of the federal government.

Although ranching scheme remains the best method of animal husbandry in the world, it must be driven and championed by the private sector. We say so because agriculture in whatever form is specifically a private business. What the government can do is to provide policies that will guide its practice. Those involved in animal husbandry business should lead the ranching initiative. The government can lend support by providing credit facilities.

The establishment of ranching will eliminate the open grazing which has led to avoidable violence between farmers and herders leading to accusation of land grabbing by the herders. Open grazing has led to needless loss of lives and livelihoods, especially in Benue and Plateau states. It has led to displacement of people from their ancestral homes and made some people to abandon farming. The development has threatened the nation’s food security.

Available statistics show that the host communities in the North-Central region have borne the brunt of the frequent attacks by killer herdsmen. Many farms have been destroyed, buildings raised, communities forced to flee, and many killed by armed herders. Herders/farmers conflicts have been recorded more in Plateau, Benue, Nasarawa, Enugu and Imo states. In June, over 200 persons were murdered in Yelewata community in Benue State by suspected armed headers. President Tinubu, who visited the state, charged the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, and the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, to immediately arrest the perpetrators. Up till now, not much has been heard over the arrest and possible prosecution of the perpetrators of the heinous crime,

Amnesty International reported recently that at least 10,000 people had been killed since President Tinubu was elected. Benue State accounted for almost 7,000 fatalities while Plateau accounted for over 2,600 dead. In Zamfara State, the global watch-dog said over 282 villages had been sacked by bandits. The humanitarian crisis caused by this ugly development has been unprecedented.

In spite of the envisaged gains of ranching, some Nigerians have opposed states donating lands for the scheme considered a private business. They have argued that the government should not provide lands for such private business ventures. Doing so will amount to setting a dangerous precedent.  There are also fears that donating lands for ranching might eventually lead to land grabbing, which may likely foment trouble between the indigenes of the state and owners of the ranch. Also, there are other Nigerians who believe that the recurring attacks on farmers and farming communities in Benue State is basically for land grabbling.

The traditional ruler of Tiv community, James Ayatse, told President Tinubu during his visit to Benue that the killings were part of planned attacks orchestrated to take over their land.

“It is not herders-farmers clashes; it’s not communal clashes; it is not reprisal attacks or skirmishes, it is a calculated, well-planned, full-scale genocidal invasion and land-grabbing campaign that has lasted for decades,” the monarch stated. These reservations should not be waved aside. There is need the separate genuine pastoralists from territorial militias masquerading as herders.

There is no doubt that ranching has many advantages over open grazing. It increases livestock productivity, allowing for controlled feeding, veterinary care, and optimized breeding, which lead to increased milk and meat production, compared to traditional methods. It also improves environmental management and presents opportunities for economic growth and enhanced national security.

We believe that ranching will address the challenges of open grazing and improve livestock farming in the country. Open grazing is no longer realistic in today’s Nigeria. The attendant conflicts and bloodletting from open grazing can no longer be tolerated. Apart from the needless loss of lives, food insecurity, loss of revenue, hunger and malnutrition, it has disrupted school calendar and increased the number of out-of-school children. It has equally increased the number of internally displaced persons.

For states that have provided lands for ranching, adequate provisions should be made by the federal government to provide social amenities, such as water, hospitals, schools and veterinary services in the ranches. Beyond infrastructure, there should be training centres for animal health, feed processing, and meat handling services. We implore animal farmers to transit from opening grazing to ranching. The viability of the ranching scheme will depend so much on private sector participation.