Isola Moses

In an attempt to resolve the perennial crisis between herders and farmers, the Kaduna State Government of Nigeria has flagged off the construction of cattle-grazing settlements and milk farm project at Damau, in Kubau Local Government Area of the State.

Channels TV reports Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai announced this on Saturday, January 18, at the ground-breaking ceremony of the proposed milk farm in Damau.

The settlement has a capacity to accommodate 1,000 cattle farmers.

Malam El-Rufai explained that the project, being executed in collaboration with the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association and a Danish dairy firm, Arla, was aimed at mitigating the incessant conflicts between herders and farmers in the state.

The governor believes the project, apart from being a pragmatic and sustainable solution to security challenges that accompany nomadic livestock production, will help expand Nigeria’s capacity in the production of high-quality milk and reduce overdependence on the importation of dairy products.

He added that the goal was to develop a world-class grazing reserve that would aid in centralising the activities of herders in the community.

Recall that over the years, the incessant conflicts between herders and farmers across the country have continued to pose a major security concern to citizens and the government at various levels.

In Kaduna also, the competition over scarce natural resources, such as land, water and pasture, besides the conflicts that follow informed the government’s decision to settle the herders in one community.