Ondo government, firm move against indiscriminate grazing

A non governmental Organisation (NGO), Peace Aid Project (PAP), has partnered with the Ondo State government to groom a new generation of millionaires through cattle ranching and livestock farming.

The group, which acquired the moribund cattle ranch at Auga Akoko, in Akoko North-East council of the state after the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the government, noted that it was poised to check indiscriminate grazing in the state.

PAP’s Chief Executive Officer, Benson Emakpor, told The Guardian yesterday in Akure that 500 youths and women are being empowered in cattle fattening at the Auga Cattle Ranch.

He, however, noted that the arrangement was different from contentious cattle colony, adding that it is a partnership geared at raising a crop of farmers and mitigating the herdsmen’s attacks.

He said: “For the record, the MoU was signed with the Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu-led administration on February 13, 2018, and was specifically meant to revamp the dilapidated Auga Cattle Ranch (and transform it) into a modern facility with innovative facilities.

“As part of the agreement, we are to construct 500 cattle sheds for the herds while other compartments would be built in line with hygienic and modern trends of raising cattle. Each of the sheds will hold 60 bulls and will be operated by the youths.”