Only Ranching Can Solve Cattle Herders, Host Community Crisis, Says Catholic Bishop

David-Chyddy Eleke

The Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor, has said that only ranching of cattle can avert bloodletting occasioned by feud between cattle rearers and their host communities.

The bishop who expressed grave concern over the incessant attacks and killing of members of communities in states in Nigeria by cattle herders said Nigeria must join the rest of the world in embracing modern methods of rearing cattle.

Ezeokafor who fielded questions from journalists at the Blessed Iwene Tansi’s Catholic Parish, Ebenebe, in Awka North Council area of Anambra State, called for a revolution in the system of rearing cattle for livelihood.

He said, “With population explosion and people maintaining improved method of living and feeding, meat had become a lucrative business.

“Developed countries such as Ireland, Israel and Korea, that have small landmass, adopted ranching in their meat supply, and with that improved method, cattle were confined in enclosures. In this way, they are able to make their cattle yield quality and quantity meat and milk.”

He added that Israel with a large influx of pilgrims to their Holy places regularly, still had food sufficiency and were able to meet the demands of food and meat supply to their tourism industry.