2020 Budget: ‘N2bn Grazing Reserves’ Creates Feud Among Farmers

• 2020 Budget: ‘N2bn Grazing Reserves’ Creates Feud Among Farmers

Gazing reserves have become the centre of attention in the development of livestock farming in Nigeria and it has, in turn, generated controversies in the country’s agricultural space.

Recently, in the proposed 2020 budget presented by President Muhammadu Buhari to the National Assembly, the Federal Ministry of Agricultural (FMARD) in its budget included N2.13 billion for the development of grazing reserves which has generated reactions from the stakeholders.

Reacting to the development, the Coordinator, Nigeria Agribusiness Group, Mr. Emmanuel Ijewere, expressed his discontentment towards the amount allocated for grazing, explaining that the decision is one-sided and does not accommodate all other livestock farmers.

According to him, there was no need for the FMARD to budget N2bn for national grazing reserves that will only benefit the cattle rearers.

“I am a businessman in the agricultural space and when you talk about national grazing reserves, I believe that cattle rearing is a business. Although this matter has been over-politicised, I feel uncomfortable that this issue is still being brought up in the budget.

“It is a federal budget; state governments are the owners of the land and the governors are the ones who can allocate the land. Now, to have national grazing reserves, we must understand that cattle are not the only source of meat or protein that we have in Nigeria.

“We have chicken, rabbits; and there is also fish. But how much have they (government) invested in them? Cattle rearing is a business; the government should stop raising the tempo in this matter. I believe that being a business when the states want to invest in it, let them go ahead.”

He, however, charges the Federal Government to take advantage of the technological advancement in the Agricultural Sector by creating modern ranches across the nation.

The Lagos State, All Farmers Association of Nigeria and Nigerian Cassava Growers Association also stated their dissatisfaction and recommendation with regards to the appropriation of funds for national grazing reserves in the 2020 budget.

Femi Oke, Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria stated that the Federal Government must carry every farmer along.

“I want to believe that since it is a national policy, there is no way they will do it without involving the farmers in the respective states. And if it is so, I think it is for the benefit of every Nigerian. The governors too should be carried along. They can’t do it in isolation.

“The reserves can’t be purely for herders and their cattle. The opportunities in such reserves are many. Adequate infrastructure will be deployed and I am sure it will be of benefit to every farmer, no matter the name they call it,” he said.

Segun Adewumi, the President of the Nigerian Cassava Growers Association noted the creation of grazing reserves will curb the destruction of farmlands by herdsmen and their cattle.

According to him, said cassava farmers suffer most in the herders/farmer clash.

“If they develop the reserves adequately, it will reduce the moving around of herdsmen. And mind you, as cassava farmers, we are seriously affected by the movement of herders and this is because during the dry season, it is mainly cassava that maintains green leaves, as  ost other leaves would have dried up.”

“So, cassava is seriously affected when herdsmen move across farmlands during the dry season.

“Therefore, if they can create reserves that can limit herdsmen to some certain portions of our country, I think it will be a good idea,” Adewunmi added.