- The Bayelsa government has disclosed its reason for establishing a grazing site in the state capital, instead of providing land for cattle colonies as proposed by the federal government
- The state's commissioner for agriculture noted that the govt opted for a grazing site so as to discourage open grazing
- He disclosed that the approach had already started yielding commercial dividends
- According to the commissioner, the ranch was not given to herdsmen, and it remains solely the property of the state government
The Bayelsa government on Wednesday, January 24, said it established a grazing site for cattle rather than colony at its Palm Estate in Yenagoa to check clashes between farmers and herdsmen, NAN reports.
Dode Wigg, the state's commissioner for agriculture, disclosed this at an interactive session with stakeholders as part of activities to mark the sixth anniversary of the Governor Seriake Dickson-led administration.
READ ALSO: Presidency responds to Obasanjo’s criticism of Buhari administration
NAIJ.com gathers that the commissioner said that the state adopted the ranch option and made available 250 acres of land cultivated with fodder grass to discourage open grazing.
He said that the ranch concept within the Bayelsa Palm Estate would ensure that the droppings from the cattle would provide natural fertiliser for the palm trees, adding that the state government retained whole ownership of the estate.
“We did not sell the Bayelsa Palm Estate to herdsmen or to anyone; what we did was to concession the Palm Estate to a private concern and we are reaping from that commercialisation policy.
“On a monthly basis, rather than inject money into the running of the estate, the state generates revenue and that has been consistent as the concessionaire has kept to the terms of the concession agreement.
“Also, the Bayelsa Palm is not a cattle colony. It is a ranch concept with provision for a dairy farm, cattle breeding, abattoir as well as cattle market. It is meant to check open grazing and allowing cattle to roam around.
“The ranch remains wholly owned by Bayelsa Government; it was not given to herdsmen and it is not a holding area, it is a grazing area and that is what we did with Bayelsa Palm," Wigg said.
PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigeria’s #1 news app
Meanwhile, NAIJ.com previously reported that Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state on Tuesday, January 23, declared that the state had no land to give out for the creation of cattle colonies; saying that he would defend the interest of the state at all times.
Wike made the declaration known at the Government House, Port Harcourt, when he granted audience to D-Source Connect Group.
He said: "We will not allow our state to be controlled by external forces. We will not be drawn into debates on cattle colony. We don’t have land for any cattle colony in Rivers state.”
What should the federal government do to tackle herdsmen attacks in the country? - on NAIJ.com TV:
Source: Naija.ng
ROSY CREST
Thursday, 25 January 2018