NAN-AE-4
Grazing
By Mohammed Lawal
Zaria (Kaduna State), July 19, 2017 (NAN) Retired AVM Muktar Mohammed, the Chairman, Governing Council, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, on Wednesday urged the country’s herdsmen to embrace modern animal grazing methods.He made the call when he unveiled a model of the Integrated Commercial Livestock Farm Project of the National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI) in Zaria, Kaduna State.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the project was initiated to provide training for livestock producers and promote commercial livestock production in the country.
Mohammed said that if the herdsmen adopted modern animal grazing methods, they would be able to stay in one place and give their children good education, while boosting their income.
“With the modern grazing methods, the herdsmen don’t need to go about looking for green grass and water to nourish their animals.
“The new methods will keep them in one place, with enough required food to feed their animals, and this will certainly minimise the incessant herdsmen-farmers conflicts,” he said.
Mohammed, however, noted that some states had enacted laws banning cattle grazing in their lands, alleging that this was a violation of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“The constitution has given citizens the right to live in any part of the country; why should some states violate this section?
“We are waiting for them to act on it and if nothing is done, we are going to take it up; this is totally unacceptable and it will never be tolerated,” he said.
In his welcome address, Prof. Clarence Ayodele-Lakpini, Director, NAPRI, Shika, Zaria, urged the youth to embrace commercial livestock production so as to improve their living standards.
“They should take livestock as a business rather than a conventional traditional practice; the way forward in the country’s livestock sub-sector is to establish model livestock farms,” he said.
Commenting on the ability of NAPRI to provide livestock training for commercial purposes, the director expressed regret that the institute was somewhat constrained by inadequate and obsolete facilities.
He, however, said that in recognition of NAPRI’s capability, many associations had applied for the training of their members.
Ayodele-Lakpini said that the associations included Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders’ Association of Nigeria and Youth Assembly Cooperative Society of Nigeria and National Sheep and Goat Development Association of Nigeria.
He said that the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) had also solicited the institute’s cooperation for its training activities.
Speaking, the Emir of Zazzau, Dr Shehu Idris, said that with the support and encouragement of all stakeholders, the vision of the institute would be realised.
The emir, who was represented by Alhaji Aminu Umar Idris, the Dangaldiman Zazzau, appealed to all stakeholders to play complementary roles in efforts to achieve the specific goals of the project. (NAN)
KLM/MOL/OOK
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Edited by Mustapha Lamidi and Dayo Komolafe