Provide dams to boost livestock production – Miyetti Allah

Secretary of the Association in Yobe state, Alhaji Khalil Muhammad Bello told Daily Trust yesterday that the Northeast governors have promised to invest in crops and Animal production in the Sub- region therefore more should be done on water and pasture to retain nomads in the state.He said the current administration in the state has […]

Secretary of the Association in Yobe state, Alhaji Khalil Muhammad Bello told Daily Trust yesterday that the Northeast governors have promised to invest in crops and Animal production in the Sub- region therefore more should be done on water and pasture to retain nomads in the state.
He said the current administration in the state has constructed earth dams at Kafia and Gumsi grazing reserves in Yunusari and Machina Local government areas but more should be constructed to provide more revenue derive for the state.
Bello lamented that though Yobe state has been leading in livestock business and production with the largest livestock market in West Africa situated in the state and the biggest grazing reserve in the country is also situated in the state, yet the country is not tapping the best from the resources.
“The biggest investment government can do in livestock breeding to enhance livestock activities in Yobe state is to construct more Dams and grow enough  grasses in all the grazing reserves across the state. That will surely stop nomads from fleeing the state to other states or countries like Cameroon for greener pasture and it will even attract breeders from other countries to the state,” he said.
He said cattle breeders are only interested in peaceful grazing areas that has good water and grasses for the cattle, adding, “Once we can get that, the movements of cattle and breeders will be limited and the issue of frequent clashes with farmers will be a thing of the past.”
He called on Yobe state government to allocate reasonable portion of its 2014 budget to the Ministry for Animals and Fisheries so that more policies and programs would be executed to boost the livestock farming in the state.