Expert calls for adoption of appropriate ranching policy
When you open graze cattle, for instance from the North to the South, they may get to eat and drink freely but there is a lot of socio-cultural nuisances that the movement causes.
An agriculture expert, Mr Ismail Olawale, has called for the adoption of an appropriate ranching policy to end open grazing in the country.
Olawale, a fellow at the National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Lagos.
He said that the adoption of ranching system was possible in Nigeria if it was devoid of political antics.
"It is very difficult to adopt or align with the modern practice of pastoral farming because we politicise the issue of open grazing in Nigeria.
"In other countries like Kenya and Ghana, there has been a shift in open grazing farming system to pastoral farming because they're serious about it," Olawale said.
He said that there were some countries in Africa that had not totally abandoned open grazing to proper ranching but were growing the livestock sector.
"Some of these countries have designated areas for ranching.
"They might not have gotten it fully but they have a national understanding on what and how they want the pastoral farming in the country to go.
"We need to put an end to open grazing in Nigeria because it does not have any benefit to anyone, both the farmers and the cattle," Olawale said.
He also reiterated the need for an end to open grazing for the health and wellbeing of the cattle being reared.
"When you open graze cattle, for instance from the North to the South, they may get to eat and drink freely but there is a lot of socio-cultural nuisances that the movement causes.
"When you rear animals without moving them constantly they grow faster and are healthier than those moving from one place to the other," Olawale said.
He said that animal scientists could attest to the fact that animals that were reared in ranches were weightier and healthier for consumption because their movement was less.
"One way we can stop the frequent farmers and herdsmen clashes is to get concentrated areas where cattle can be reared without conflicts with farmers.
"It is possible when we implement the policy in good faith, transparency and understanding with all parties concerned," Olawale said.