Emir seeks end to herdsmen, farmers clashes
THE Emir of Zazzau in Kaduna State, Dr. Shehu Idris, has called on farmers to avoid cultivating cattle routes while herdsmen should stop encroaching into farmlands.
He made the call when District Heads from Zazzau Emirate paid him the traditional Sallah homage in Zaria on Sunday.
He said the call had become necessary in order to prevent the incessant farmers, herdsmen clashes.
He urged farmers to adopt irrigation system of farming to facilitate the attainment of national food security.
“I call on farmers to take advantage of irrigation system and cultivate varieties of crops in order to complement rainy season farming and create job opportunities. They should also make use of the rainy season to cultivate farmlands to feed the nation and improve their revenue base,” he stated.
The emir appealed to farmers to avoid the habit of selling off all their farm produce especially during harvest and becoming stranded before the next farming season.
“Farmers should avoid cultivating cattle routes and herdsmen should avoid encroaching into farmlands in order to prevent the incessant farmers, herdsmen clashes,” he restated.
The monach urged government at all levels to supply fertilisers and other farm implements to farmers regularly.
While assuring the readiness of the emirate to partner with government to eradicate diseases, he appealed for cooperation, courage and understanding from citizens to enable the state achieve desired goal.
He advised all district heads to instruct Imams in their domain to continue to pray for peace to reign in Zazzau emirate, Kaduna and Nigeria at large.
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2 Comments
It is a terrible shame that these hapless herdsmen still walk thousands of miles to feed their animals in 2015 Nigeria. In an effort to make a living these men almost always engage in confrontation with fellow Nigerians. Head or tail, Nigeria and Nigerians lose. There is no winner here.
Perhaps a better way out of this is what obtains in other countries – grass farming. This is where some farmers plant grass and other plants that these animals feed on and sell to these herdsmen during dry season. This is done in Europe and even our neighbouring Sudan! The grass and other animal feeds are then dried and transported to these herdsmen all year round. Thus these cattle rearers can stay in one place, look after their animals with minimal chance of deadly confrontations which have become yearly occurrence.
Its covert politics ! its not about cows at all .Hausa have a hidden agenda thats why they wont modernise !
We will review and take appropriate action.