FCT herdsmen to get cattle tracking devices …As minister sets up committee on grazing reserves
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT), under the administration of Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, has keyed in the Radio Frequency Identification Device (RFID) launched by Zycom Surveillance Nigeria Limited in collaboration with the Cattle Breeders Association in the territory.
This was revealed by the Permanent Secretary of FCT, Mr Chinyeaka Ohaa, who represented the minister at the just concluded 3-day national conference on livestock in Abuja.
“The device is designed to provide the unique identity of each cattle, track their location anywhere and help in enforcing compliance of the herders to authorised grazing rules,” he said.
In addition, the FCT administration has recruited 220 veterinary doctors and 12 animal health officers to enhance agricultural monitoring and extension services.
Recently, over 220,000 animals were vaccinated in a two weeks intensive vaccination campaign carried out by the FCT Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, he added.
Meanwhile, the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, has set up a ministerial committee on the development of the four grazing reserves provided for in the FCT master plan.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the just concluded 3-day national conference on livestock holding in Abuja, where he was represented by FCT Permanent Secretary, Mr Chinyeaka Ohaa, the minister said the committee has completed its work and is to submit its report soon.
He added that discussions were also on with a Danish company for the development of a grazing reserve into a world class reserve as a model with provision of adequate compensation to affected farmers.
In addition, the minister noted that the FCT administration has recently imposed a ban on unauthorised transportation and sales of fresh meat from neighbouring states, hence only live animals are allowed to be brought into the territory.