Open grazing ban: Miyetti Allah gives condition, says system primitive
Following the approval of the National Executive Committee (NEC) to ban open grazing across the country, the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN) has given terms and conditions to be met before supporting government’s decision.
National Secretary of MACBAN, Baba Usman, said they would only support the development if government’s intention is for the good and development of the pastoralists.
In an interview with The Guardian, Usman said: “I cannot say whether we are in support or not, because we have no details of the plan by the Federal Government.
“If the initiative is towards bringing an end the herders-farmers clashes, we will support it.
After all, our members are always at the receiving end of these crises. If you look at the spate of kidnappings and cattle rustling, we are at the receiving end of all this thing.”
On ranching, Usman said the open cattle grazing system is primitive and expressed his members readiness to adopt ranching system suggested by the federal government, provided it suits the peculiarity of the pastoralists.
He explained that the open grazing system is what the herders inherited from their forefathers and it is already a way of life for them, adding: “Changing a way of life of a particular person is a gradual process.”
“We want government to improve their skills, educate them, show them that what 50 cows can do today, 300 cows cannot do today, show them the benefit of ranching and bring a model that will suit their peculiarity.
“We are not opposed to ranching, considering the growing population of human beings and the animals, but this calls for adequate planning.
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