Adamawa Commissioner Urges Ranching, Open Grazing Will Resolve Farmer-Herder Conflicts

Adamawa Commissioner Urges Ranching, Open Grazing Will Resolve Farmer-Herder Conflicts

The Commissioner for Livestock in Adamawa State, Alhaji Tijani Maksha, has endorsed the recommendation by Professor Attahiru Jega’s panel for adopting both ranching and open grazing as solutions to the longstanding conflicts between farmers and herders nationwide.……CONTINUE READING 

In an exclusive interview with Arewa PUNCH in Yola, Maksha explained that combining both ranching and open grazing would allow pastoralists to choose the system best suited to them. He emphasized that sudden enforcement of ranching would be challenging due to the traditional roots of open grazing.

Recalling his earlier tenure as commissioner under former Governor Murtala Nyako, Maksha highlighted that ranching areas were established across three senatorial districts to encourage peaceful cohabitation and allow herders’ children to attend school alongside farmers’ children.

Maksha commended President Bola Tinubu’s recent creation of the Federal Ministry of Livestock, noting it will strengthen Nigeria’s livestock sector, which contributes significantly to the economy by creating employment, particularly for women and youth.

According to him, the benefits of ranching will gradually become evident, encouraging herders to adopt the system willingly.