Time to address farmer-grazer conflicts

In the past, it was simply that livestock being grazed strayed into farmers’ fields and destroyed crops, often resulting in violent attempts towards achieving settlements. This was manageable with the intervention of traditional authorities and a well entrenched understanding and harmonious coexistence between farmers and grazers. Not so today. The proportions are more deadly and […]

In the past, it was simply that livestock being grazed strayed into farmers’ fields and destroyed crops, often resulting in violent attempts towards achieving settlements. This was manageable with the intervention of traditional authorities and a well entrenched understanding and harmonious coexistence between farmers and grazers. Not so today. The proportions are more deadly and serious. Land dispossession, and cattle rustling and resultant weaponised violence have been added to an already debilitating insurgency and kidnappings in the country. 

Farming and cattle rearing are important decimals in the determination of the success of any agricultural system. Agriculture itself is one of the critical components in the survival of any nation’s economy. Undoubtedly it is the most prominent among economic indices that directly affect the quality of life of any people.

Hence the promised change to divest from oil and lay emphasis to agriculture needs start from here, if we are to achieve and sustain food sufficiency immediately. Crucial to the agenda of boosting agriculture and diversifying Nigeria’s economy is the challenge of dealing with incessant farmers-herdsmen clashes, the unavoidable result from the duo having to compete intensely for access to arable and grazing fields.

But what is the immediate solution to this survival-of-the-fittest tussle? 

Without doubt, there is need to review the Land Use Decree of 1978 and ensure that federal, state and local governments, exercise powers enshrined therein to provide and cater for the competing forces.  A lot of the conflicts find their bearing from sectional and mischievous interpretations of policies, as political, tribal and religious interests tend to override the national goal of peace and socio-economic development. Yet there is enough land to sustain a co-habitation of farmers and grazers in peaceful and harmonious coexistence were there to be no ulterior self-serving political agenda.

Population growth and demand for food has necessitated encroachment into grazing lands. Nomadic grazers ply the good old routes only to discover the land, fully cultivated. People need to farm. Cattle and other livestock need to graze freely. In spite of this, it requires the firm intervention of Governments at all levels to ensure that all interests are amicably catered for.

It is obvious that the old grazing method is archaic and unworkable, and can no longer be relied upon. Nigeria cannot continue to retain the old crude ways in both farming techniques and livestock breeding. We must propagate the idea of breeding cattle and producing milk in ranches. A few attempts in the North have proved immensely successful. Those who succeed seem to hoard the knowledge in deliberate denial of the local breeders. 

In the meantime, Governments need to be involved in immediately settling the current feuds in Plateau, Benue, and Nasarawa States. Success stories of this attempt exist, and need to be studied and applied across the entire Northern region. Much of the killings going on arise from revenge and reprisal attacks. Government has to devise means of wading and wedging in between the feuding land users using dialogue as instrument. On one hand is the need to engage the farming communities on ways and means of breaking the vicious circle of bloodletting. On the other is the need to engage cattle grazers through the powerful Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association. Different methods can provide assuage, but a well publicised demarcation of stock routes is by far the best assurance of a sense of belonging that cattle herders can appreciate and adapt to, in protection of farmlands.

In addition to existing cattle routes, there is need for safe stock routes along our highways, achievable through bye laws that prevent cultivating all lands within 20 to 30 metres of the shoulders of all highways nationwide. In fact, Local Governments can be empowered to grow appropriate grass along the safe routes for animals. In States where this was adopted and implemented, clashes were not only minimised, but were indeed brought to a halt. Cattle rustling can then be treated purely for being the criminal act that it is, and culprits established and punished quickly to the satisfaction of the livestock owners.

We need to change the national perception of farming and cattle rearing as the occupation of the wretched villager and the wondering Fulani nomad. We must imbibe and sustain modern trends of agriculture and at the same time promote interdependence which is an undeniable fact.

Ending this perennial conflict must be approached from perspective of providing a sustained solution to a national problem of low agricultural productivity on which must be leveraged the change posture of transforming the standards of living of a neglected populace. Certainly we could change the fortunes of this nation.