NAN-AE-3
Routes
By Mamman Mohammed
Damaturu, Nov. 22, 2016 (NAN) Yobe Government on Tuesday said it had eliminated farmer/grazer conflicts through demarcation and beaconing of 1,344 kilometers of cattle routes in the state.
Dr Mustapha Gaidam, Programme Manager, Yobe Livestock Development Programme, disclosed this in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Damaturu.
Gaidam said the routes had been surveyed, demarcated and beaconed to provide free movement of the animals and avoid trespass into farmlands.
“Currently, livestock officers in conjunction with surveyors from the state ministry of Land and survey are working on additional 344 kilometers to ensure every part of the state is covered.”
Gaidam said the livestock officers had also collaborated with community leaders to undertake periodic monitoring of the routes.
“The team ensures that grazing reserves are left for grazing of animals while the livestock do not go into farms. This has been very successful.’’
The programme manager said the state government had also provided water along the routes and in grazing reserves, making it easy for the animals to access water without passing through farmland.
He said the provision of exotic grasses and free vaccination for the livestock made grazing activities peaceful and successful in the state.
Gaidam said Yobe Government had also introduced free veterinary services, adding that it had vaccinated more than 7 million herds of cattle, sheep, goats and dogs in the last eight years.
He said the animals were vaccinated against trans boundary animal diseases such as Contagious Bovine Pluro Pneumonia (CBPP), Black Quarter (BQ), Pest Petit Ruminants (PPR) and dogs against Anti-Rabies (AR). (NAN)
MM/ADA/IM
(Edited by Deji Abdulwahab/Ibrahim Mammaga)