According to the Senate, the move to support the
action of the Federal Government has become
imperative as the importation of grazing pastures for
cattle at designated places across the country will
proffer permanent solution to the protracted crisis
between farmers and herdsmen.
The committee also hailed President Buhari's directive
for the release of 10,000 tonnes of grains.
Speaking yesterday in Abuja, Chairman, Senate
Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development,
Senator Abdullahi Adamu, who dismissed criticism of
the move by some professors of agriculture who had
opposed the move, stressed that they had technology
to grow grasses, if they received government support.
He criticised the inability of the professors to proffer
solutions to the problem of grazing over the years,
adding that they lacked any moral right to criticise the
government's move.
Senator Adamu, who noted that importing grazing
grasses and making them available to cattle rearers
would stop the movement of cattle from one place to
another, stressed that the move would also put paid to
the growing spate of killings by herdsmen.
According to him, the government will provide pasture
to curtail the continuous movement of cattle by
herdsmen.
He noted that in the United States, pastures and water
were provided to grow nutritious grasses for cattle's
sustenance, adding that the government must face the
reality of the moment by taking some painful decisions
to end the herdsmen and farmers' clashes.
"There are no easy fixes to the problem,'' Senator
Abdullahi said.
He also blamed the mindless killings by herdsmen on
growing indiscipline among the herdsmen.
Speaking further, Senator Adamu disclosed that
President Buhari had ordered the injection of 10,000
tonnes of grains into the system to ease the pains
caused by rising cost of grains in the country,
He also said that his committee had discovered that
the administration of Buhari met many silos in the
country empty, adding that his committee was
impressed that the federal government had prioritised
agriculture.
He said the Senate would provide the necessary
legislative support for the presidency to restore the lost
glory of agricultural sector in Nigeria.
It would be recalled that the Minister of Agriculture,
Chief Audu Ogbeh, had in March this year, disclosed
that government had plans to begin the importation of
grasses for cows to reduce the movement of herdsmen
across the country.
Ogbeh, had disclosed that Buhari was setting up
grazing areas in various states of the federation as a
response to the clashes.
Addressing his Idoma people in Abuja who protested
the massacre of Agatu people in Benue State by
herdsmen, Ogbeh said: “We are producing massive
hectares of grass for the consumption of cattle; we
have received these grasses from Brazil and we are
growing them in massive quantities.
“Cattle herdsmen want grasses for their cattle; such
grass is what we are growing in large quantities and,
within the next three months, some of these will be
ready.''
action of the Federal Government has become
imperative as the importation of grazing pastures for
cattle at designated places across the country will
proffer permanent solution to the protracted crisis
between farmers and herdsmen.
The committee also hailed President Buhari's directive
for the release of 10,000 tonnes of grains.
Speaking yesterday in Abuja, Chairman, Senate
Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development,
Senator Abdullahi Adamu, who dismissed criticism of
the move by some professors of agriculture who had
opposed the move, stressed that they had technology
to grow grasses, if they received government support.
He criticised the inability of the professors to proffer
solutions to the problem of grazing over the years,
adding that they lacked any moral right to criticise the
government's move.
Senator Adamu, who noted that importing grazing
grasses and making them available to cattle rearers
would stop the movement of cattle from one place to
another, stressed that the move would also put paid to
the growing spate of killings by herdsmen.
According to him, the government will provide pasture
to curtail the continuous movement of cattle by
herdsmen.
He noted that in the United States, pastures and water
were provided to grow nutritious grasses for cattle's
sustenance, adding that the government must face the
reality of the moment by taking some painful decisions
to end the herdsmen and farmers' clashes.
"There are no easy fixes to the problem,'' Senator
Abdullahi said.
He also blamed the mindless killings by herdsmen on
growing indiscipline among the herdsmen.
Speaking further, Senator Adamu disclosed that
President Buhari had ordered the injection of 10,000
tonnes of grains into the system to ease the pains
caused by rising cost of grains in the country,
He also said that his committee had discovered that
the administration of Buhari met many silos in the
country empty, adding that his committee was
impressed that the federal government had prioritised
agriculture.
He said the Senate would provide the necessary
legislative support for the presidency to restore the lost
glory of agricultural sector in Nigeria.
It would be recalled that the Minister of Agriculture,
Chief Audu Ogbeh, had in March this year, disclosed
that government had plans to begin the importation of
grasses for cows to reduce the movement of herdsmen
across the country.
Ogbeh, had disclosed that Buhari was setting up
grazing areas in various states of the federation as a
response to the clashes.
Addressing his Idoma people in Abuja who protested
the massacre of Agatu people in Benue State by
herdsmen, Ogbeh said: “We are producing massive
hectares of grass for the consumption of cattle; we
have received these grasses from Brazil and we are
growing them in massive quantities.
“Cattle herdsmen want grasses for their cattle; such
grass is what we are growing in large quantities and,
within the next three months, some of these will be
ready.''
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