The Federal Government on Wednesday announced inauguration of the Local Organising Committee on the National Conference for Livestock Development that would help put an end to the incessant clashes between farmers and herdsmen in different parts of the country.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Audu Ogbeh, who inaugurated the committee in Abuja, said it would ensure that cattle roaming across the country comes to an end.

He was quoted in a statement by the ministry as saying “The need to keep our cattle in secured colonies will afford us the opportunity to curtail the incessant farmers/herdsmen clashes as well as embark on systematic cattle breed improvement.”

Ogbeh appreciated the committee members for their commitment to the sustainable development of the livestock sub-sector.

He said transforming grazing reserves into ranches was as a result of the recommendations of a three-day stakeholders’ policy dialogue held in Kaduna in April this year.

The minister stated that the recommendations should be presented to a larger audience at a forum where ministers of agriculture from the sub-region would be in attendance.

Ogbeh observed that it was important to expand the audience to consider the recommendations of the policy dialogue because similar challenges were faced by Nigeria’s neighbours.

He urged committee members to professionally organise the conference so as to enable participants to agree on how best to handle cattle grazing issues, as well as livestock development in Nigeria.

Chairman of the committee and Director of Veterinary, FMARD, Dr. Gideon Mshebwala, assured the minister that his team would live up to expectation.

Punch