Gombe State Embarks On Ambitious Project To Address Farmers /Herders Conflicts.
The Gombe State government has embarked on an ambitious project of restoring cattle routes and grazing reserves to address the lingering conflicts between farmers and herders in Gombe state.
The Government under the Livestock and Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES) with support from the World Bank begun the re- survey and re-demarcation of 38 cattle routes and 8 grazing reserves late last year.
A project that aims to mitigate clashes between herders and farmers particularly during critical farming and harvest seasons when tensions often escalate, leading to loss of lives and destruction of agricultural produce posing a serious threat to food security in the state and the country at large.
Prof. Usman Bello Abubakar the State Coordinator Gombe L-PRES Project, speaking recently during a stakeholders’ engagement meeting with 11 LGA Chairmen at Emerald Royal Hotel Gombe over the planned construction of Gombe Ultra-Modern Abattoir said, the bold step taken by the State Government to restore Livestock Routes and Grazing Reserves is a fundamental step towards peace building and creating stability in the livestock sector.
He commended the visionary leadership of the State Governor Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya for the bold and laudable initiative that had remained a serious challenge for decades.
He said, “By clearly defining cattle routes, the present administration under leadership of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya hopes to foster peace and enhance cooperation between these vital livestock and agricultural communities”.
Prof. Abubakar said the Project views the recurring conflicts as a major challenge facing the livestock sector describing livestock routes as critical components of livestock production systems.
He said, livestock routes and grazing reserves offer numerous benefits to pastoralist, livestock and the environment by minimizing conflicts, providing forage thereby improving livestock nutrition and productivity as well promotion of biodiversity, ecosystem balance and resilience to climate change and other environmental challenges.
He said the L-PRES Project envisaged a modern approach to livestock production system with a vision to providing demarcated routes with support services including checkpoints, mobile veterinary clinics, grazing colonies, conflict resolution centers, water yards, pastoral camps and grazing colonies under the project’s forage development program.
Field reports indicate that, the company handling the project IGNITED GOALS LIMITED had commenced operations with remarkable progress. They have already covered Nafada LGA and are currently at Toungo in Funakaye Local Government from where they would proceed to Kwami Local Government Area of the state.
Highlights of field activities according to the Executive Officer of the Company handling the Project Surv. Ibrahim Saleh Gwani include digging and erection of boundary makers with concrete identification posts throughout the area to delineate boundaries and establish clear pathways for livestock movement and local farming communities.
He explained that the distance between one concrete identification post to another is one kilometer with a depth of 50cm beneath and 1 meter height for each identification post.
He explained that these symbols will help to ensure safe and efficient movement and passage of cattle along designated routes thereby minimizing conflicts with other land users.
Local officials, livestock farmers and stakeholders have expressed their support for the project, recognizing its potential to reduce the seasonal conflicts between farmers and herders that has impacted negatively on the state economy.
Prof. Abubakar noted that the overall vision of the state Government when these interventions are finally completed, the livestock sector will witness a paradigm shift from traditional practices to a modern approach that will enhance the management of cattle routes for reduced conflicts between herders and farmers, and promote sustainable livestock development process in the region in conformity with international best practices.
He said to realize this vision the L-PRES Project with support of the State Governor Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, undertook a major assessment of the challenges confronting the entire sector and came up with plan for the total rehabilitation and upgrade of basic infrastructure including slaughter slaps, livestock markets, rehabilitation of veterinary clinics and other basic facilities which he said are both critical and fundamental towards achieving the objectives of establishing a modern livestock industry in the state.
With the opening of bids, a fortnight ago for the construction of an Ultra-Modern Modern Abattoir in the state capital and plans to establish an International Livestock Market it appears Gombe State has set a precedent to change the narrative from traditional to a modern livestock business in tune with global industry requirements and practices.
Industry players are optimistic that with these developments Gombe has great potentials to becoming a regional power and player on global livestock business with enormous financial returns and fortunes for the state economy and livestock farmers.
