Gombe State Executive Council on Wednesday ratified the decision to ban cattle movement from other states into its territory as well as night grazing.
The exco meeting which was presided by Governor Muhammadu Yahaya, also outlawed movement of cattle from one local government area to the other from October 2022 to January 2023.
Briefing the press at the chamber, Commissioner for Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Muhammad Gettado, said night grazing from 6pm to 6am is prohibited.
According to him, this is in a bid to mitigate farmer/herder clashes, stressing that there was need to maintain food in the state, going by current realities.
He said, “Council approved measures to curtail the fighting between farmers and herders in Gombe State. As you are fully aware, farmers used to come from other states passing through Gombe.
“Already about 35 to 40 percent of Gombe State farmers, infact northern Nigeria farmers have nothing to eat now, they have finished what they produced because they got 10-15 percent of what they are supposed to get. In view of this there is need for government to take serious measures to at least take care of the little we have from our farmers.
The commissioner warned against burning of crop residues, saying that it would sustain the animals upon their return to the farm by February 2023.
“Burning of crops residue by the farmers after harvest is illegal because they are supposed to leave the rest of their harvest for the cattle.
“Night grazing is one of the issues we are having between farmers and herders from 6pm is very dangerous, usually they destroy farms, no night grazing from 6pm to 6am as far as Gombe is concerned.
“We have directed the leadership of Miyetti Allah to make sure that no child is allowed to shepherd cattles because it is one of the causes of farmers/herders conflict,” he said.
“The banning of herders from entering Gombe State from October 2022 to January 2023 was approved by state executive council we intend to restrict movement of cattle from one local government to another because most of the destruction is done by indigenous cattle in Gombe State. It should remain in the local government areas until January 31, 2023.”
Source – THE PUNCH
