Cross River plans ranching, livestock clusters to curb farmer-herder conflicts

The Cross River State Government is planning organised ranching, pasture development, and livestock production clusters as part of efforts to reduce farmer-herder conflicts in the state.

Liyel Imoukhuede, the special adviser to Governor Bassey Otu on Livestock Development, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Calabar on Saturday.

Mr Imoikhuede said the administration was moving away from open and unmanaged livestock movement towards organised livestock production.

He also said that the government was identifying appropriate land for ranching, demonstration farms, pasture development, and livestock production clusters.

According to him, land access will be properly planned and undertaken within the state’s legal and community framework.

He said that modern ranching required more than land for cattle, adding that water, pasture, veterinary services, animal-health infrastructure, roads, security, feed, and market linkages were very important too.

“The objective is not simply to provide land for cattle. A modern ranch requires water, pasture, veterinary services, animal health infrastructure, roads, security, feed, and market linkages,” he said.

The special adviser noted that the state position along an international livestock corridor made proper livestock movement control particularly important.

He identified the Border Animal Holding and Quarantine Facility at Mfum-Ajassor in Etung as an important development for animal movement control, disease surveillance, traceability, and safer cross-border trade.

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He explained that the government approach was designed to protect farmers while providing pastoralists with a viable and organised economic system.

“Our philosophy is simple; farmers must be protected, pastoralists must have a viable economic system, and livestock production must be organised in a way that reduces avoidable conflict,” he said.