Ogun VCDP emphasise capacity building for farmers, herders on grazing

The Ogun State Programme Manager, Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP), Mr. Samuel Adeogun has explained the need to engage herdsmen on new technologies of rearing livestock without destroying farm produce.

Adeogun, who made this known at a meeting on reducing farmers/herders clashes at Obafemi Owode Local Government, organised by the V CDP, Ogun State Unit, noted that the training would not only improve the productivity of their livestock, but also increase the revenue of the herdsmen.He stated further that the meeting is a conflict resolution mechanism to bring to a halt the controversy between herdsmen and crop farmers in the state, which had led to loss of life and property, noting that it would bring about mutual respect to players in the value chain, as key stakeholders would form a committee to reduce the conflict.

“Part of the efforts of the VCDP is to bring the Fulanis, the farmers and other key stakeholders together with the belief that forming a committee for resolution, will help minimise the raging conflict between the farmers and the herders. The resolution of this meeting is going to be put forward to another state level engagement, which will cut across all the local governments,”Adeogun said.

In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs. Abosede Ogunleye, noted that the state government was committed to finding a lasting solution the farmers and Fulani clashes by putting machineries in place to regulate the activities of the herdsmen, as this according to her, would boost productivity and income generation.

She revealed that a conflict resolution committee was being set up in all the five local governments the programme had taken place, as plans were underway to set up the committee at the state level, assuring that peace would soon spread to other local government areas.

“We have been able to meet with them at the state level to have peaceful resolution meetings, called their leaders and they told us the measures they have taken to put an end to the nefarious activities of immigrants causing havoc on farms across the state. I want to assure you that in all the Local Government we have visited, even at the state level, we have been able the set up a task force,” she said.Representative of rice farmers in Ogbere, Ijebu East Local Government Mr. Uche Job decried the invasion and destruction of rice farms by herders in the community.