NAN-AE-4
Livestock
By Temitope Ponle
Abuja, Nov. 10, 2017 (NAN) ECOWAS member-states have been urged to implement the Protocol on Transhumance and publish same in national languages to sensitise citizens to existing laws on livestock management in the sub-region.
This formed part of the recommendations of a November 2017 joint study by ECOWAS and the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS).
The study, inaugurated at the just concluded ECOWAS Annual Development Partners’ Meeting in Abuja, is entitled; “Pastoralism and Security in West Africa”.
The 1998 ECOWAS “Decision Relating to the Regulations on Transhumance Between ECOWAS Member-States” recognises the importance of cross-border livestock movement and aims to prevent farmer-herder conflicts.
The `Decision’ states that all transhumance livestock shall be allowed free passage across points of entry into as well as departure from each country.
It, however, noted that this would be done on the condition that herders had the ECOWAS International Transhumance Certificate.
According to the Decision, the herdsman is expected to obtain the certificate from the livestock control post of his locality each year before departure.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the certificate is issued by the livestock control at the point of departure in the form of a special booklet containing four sheets of white, pink, yellow and blue.
The first page (white) is not to be detached from the cover pages and is handed over to the herdsman who produces it on demand while the other pages are duplicate copies handled by the issuing office.
Annual reports containing data on the movement and numbers of livestock departing and returning from transhumance are to be forwarded to the ECOWAS Commission.
The ECOWAS-UNOWAS joint study noted that pastoralism was a major concern in the sub-region due to constant clashes between herdsmen and farmers.
The study aimed to assess the causes of conflicts involving pastoralists in West Africa, recommend strategies to prevent them and promote understanding of issues on livestock management that would influence national policies.
It identified pastoralism as one of the contributors to the agrarian sector and economies of West Africa and further added that recommendations made were aimed at finding peaceful resolutions to the crisis.
It stated that the implementation of the 1998 ECOWAS Transhumance Protocol by member-states would reduce tensions between herdsmen and farmers.
It further recommended that member-states maintained and reopened transhumance routes within national borders and between member-states.
It proposed that member states establish and strengthen local community committees on conflict prevention and resolution to facilitate the coordination of activities of herdsmen and farmers.
It noted that establishing and strengthening local community committees would mitigate conflicts.
The study suggested that member-states explore private sector development of ICT coverage in rural places to facilitate distant learning on issues of transhumance.
The study urged the ECOWAS Commission to mobilise support from and explore partnerships with the international community for the implementation of cross-border regional programmes along transhumance corridors.
It also recommended that the international community work with member-states to develop a regional communications strategy to raise awareness on activities of herdsmen and conflict prevention.
It likewise called for the training of journalists in member-states on fair reportage of issues. (NAN)
TOP/EEE
=======
Edited by Ese E. Ekama