Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, has declared that the Federal Government has not done enough to cater for the needs of herdsmen in the country.

Speaking at an emergency security meeting at the presidential villa yesterday, Chief Ogheh said the government has done next to nothing for the cattle rearers and as a result, their operations have become a threat to the existence of the nation’s farmers.

“The farmers and herdsmen must not have their lives threatened by circumstances surrounding their professions. We do not want the farmer to lose his crops nor would we want anyone to. Over the years, we have not done much to look seriously into the issue of livestock development in the country. People ask the question: Why should government get involved? Why shouldn’t the herdsmen manage their own livestock?

“I am sad to tell you that in the last 50 years, until recently, we may have done enough for the rice farmer, the cassava farmer, the maize farmer, the cocoa farmer, but we haven’t done much for herdsmen and that inability and omission on our part is resulting in the crises we are witnessing today. “In Europe, every cow that is farmed gets a subsidy of Six Euros per day. We have done next to nothing for the cattle rearers here and as a result, their operations have become a threat to the existence of our farmers and that is what this communiqué will seek to resolve,” said Ogbeh.

 

 

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