Miyetti Allah seeks ministry of livestock devt

Chairman of Jigawa State branch of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, Alhaji Ya’u Haruna, yesterday said only the establishment of a ministry of livestock development by the federal government will give herdsman and their animals the needed attention.

Addressing newsmen in Dutse, Alhaji Ya’u said: “We have had the opportunity of travelling to Niger Republic and other African countries to see how they are managing herdsmen and their livestock. In Niger Republic, we observed that they have a ministry of agriculture and a ministry of livestock development.

They said before the discovery of oil, their major sources of foreign exchange were livestock, skin and hide, bones and even cow huff. The ministry takes care of the issues of grazing reserves, livestock vaccination, herders/farmers relations among others.

“We want the same thing in Nigeria, because the ministry of agriculture in trying, but a separate ministry of livestock development will do better”.

He said the famers/herders clash is minimal in Jigawa, because of the proactive stand taken by government, adding that there are committees made up of Miyetti-Allah, police, traditional rulers and farmers in the 27 local government areas that meet regularly.