The farmers and herders clash which has claimed lives and properties over the years, while putting the nation on the edge of total crisis, should have easily passed as ‘making a mountain out of a mole hill’ from something that looked like a mere family squabble. But that will be an understatement due to the complex answers to the simple questions it posed.
It has the potential and actually tried in destabilizing the social cohesion of the country, threatening the food supply of the nation with its huge economic implications that determines import, export, employment and inflation. It also became extremely political with all arms of government lending divergent voices and solutions to the issue.
Now, let’s trace this problem back to the source. It gained traction with farmers in Benue state crying out that their farms and its produce are being destroyed by Fulani herdsmen who bring their livestock to graze on these farms. It even became more disturbing to hear that farmers are killed in these attacks. Before long, this occurrence spread to other states in the country.
The question anyone who genuinely wants to find a solution to this will ask is, why? Why has a nation that is not used to farmers and herders conflict suddenly experiencing it in an alarming scope? A lot of accusations and counter-accusations were put forth to answer this question. The Miyetti Allah, an umbrella body for the herders asserted repeatedly that the herders are innocent of the crimes and are only victims of smear campaign. The herdsmen also argued that traditional crossing routes for their livestock have been maliciously obstructed by farmers.
Though there have been many reasons given for the famers-herders conflict, one that seems plausible is the reason given by Ganduje, governor of Kano state who was speaking at a function. He opined that the cause of the surge in herders moving from the north to the south is the desertification of the north, as most hitherto grazing areas have now become deserts as a result of drought. These geographical transitions subsequently lead to frictions between the herders and the owners of farmlands in the south where they migrate to.
To mitigate this problem, many governments in the south have banned open grazing, just like Benue had done earlier. But this has not completely settled the matter nor doused the tension it created.
Those who are against it say that cattle rearing is a business just like any other business, say for example petty trade, motor parts and others, and as such those who engage in cattle rearing should be responsible for the rent or ownership of the grazing land. So it means if a herder can find a place, even in the most urbanized area of a city and is able to pay for the land, without any environmental hazard, then the herder should be totally free to rear cattle in such place.
In order to stop the suspicions and blame game, the fact should be stated and ways sought to nip the issue in the bud. The herders are clearly facing a challenge that entrepreneurs face. An entrepreneur might face the problem of lack of funds, low patronage, scarcity of equipment and many more. In summary there are two major ways of tackling entrepreneurial challenges; cash injection and innovation.
Cattle rearing is a lucrative business as meat and dairy products are always in demand across the nation, so the herders are definitely not facing a problem of cash crunch, they have not complained about not having capital either.
Innovation therefore is the answer. Herdsmen are very industrious people; consider how meticulous and diligent they are in livestock rearing, traversing long distance while not neglecting family in the course of it. They should engage in developmental innovations even if there has to be external consultations. There are videos online of how cattle owners in other parts of the world are going about the business without even having to go long distances.
Many global business powerhouses today are example of businesses that had to weather through challenging times by creative means. The recent grazing gazette released last week by the presidency, though it has come under much criticism, could be a positive way of helping the herders, but it must not be seen to be forceful in any way, lest the herders are pampered into mediocrity and therefore fall short of business excellence while also missing out on developing breakthrough methods in cattle rearing.
