Ending rustling, assuring pastoral stability

Addressing an international conference on Security and Development Challenges of Pastoralism in West and Central Africa organized by the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) in Kaduna, Akinwumi further observed that the pastoral economy, which he said was viable in the past, had now become a hazardous one to run  due to the emergence […]

Addressing an international conference on Security and Development Challenges of Pastoralism in West and Central Africa organized by the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) in Kaduna, Akinwumi further observed that the pastoral economy, which he said was viable in the past, had now become a hazardous one to run  due to the emergence in recent years of a more virulent aspect of conflicts over farmlands and grazing routes between farmers and herders, and the increasing incidence of rustling, involving mostly cattle. He stressed the need for adoption of a regional solution to rustling, including the use of modern technology, to track livestock. Adesina also recommended the introduction of biometric registration of pastoralists and herders, the development of a comprehensive livestock information system, and the establishment of more grazing reserves as means to address the perennial clashes between farmers and pastoralists.
In remarks read on his behalf, President Goodluck Jonathan expressed regret that livestock production, a major means of income, was being threatened by conflicts and thefts, noting that government would explore the ‘dialogue option’ in resolving the crisis. In his remarks, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwwal, lamented the human and material losses caused by the conflicts between pastoralists and farmers, and condemned the intrusion of politics into them.
The NSA, Alhaji Mohammed Sambo Dasuki, whose office convened the conference, urged government, traditional rulers, the media and other institutions to work together in finding solutions to the pastoralists’ crisis, adding that peaceful coexistence required compromises by all. Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero of Kaduna State said the struggle over farmlands and grazing fields among farmers and pastoralists was due to rapid urbanization, which was eating into areas marked as cattle routes and grazing reserves, a fact that was underlined by the Emir of Zazzau, Dr Shehu Idris. The emir traced the source of such conflicts to continuous encroachment on cattle routes.
Clearly, the persistent conflicts between farmers and herders, and the rustling of livestock, have become a major source of security concern for the West and Central Africa regions. Addressing them will require both short term and long term measures.
The first of the short term measures would be the restoration and re-designation of grazing reserves and cattle routes as well as their preservation against any encroachment for crop cultivation. Each northern state should produce a map of all grazing reserves within its statutory boundaries and thereafter gazette them.
The long term solution is the breeding of cattle in ranches, even though this certainly will have several multiplier effects, including steep rise in the cost of beef beyond the reach of many people. Ranching will require the livestock farmer to be sedentary, and to employ qualified veterinarians, animal health workers, cleaners, drivers, security guards, cattle attendants, etc.. Alternative source of water, power supply, feed processors and milling machines are also some of the essential services and facilities that would be required to be put in place in a ranch. These are the overheads that will determine the ultimate price of beef if ranching of livestock takes place.
One challenge of the long term solution is that pastoralists lack the skills to engage in modern livestock farming in non-nomadic lifestyle. All these therefore must be addressed if a system of tracking, which could involve complex technical measurements, is to be successful.  To enable traditional pastoralists buy in to both measures, and own their maintenance, the government should embark on enlightenment drives to educate those directly affected in the pastoral economy, on the imperatives of breeding cattle and other livestock in ranches.
There can be no quick fixes on an issue of this complexity. Fora such as the Kaduna conference are therefore important in highlighting the problem and proffering solution and designing models to apply it.