Open grazing is not a sustainable way of livestock production – Gov. El-Rufai

The executive governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has stated that open grazing is not a sustainable way of livestock production, noting that he is willing to implement the anti-grazing law

The Governor however stated that passing a bill and actually seeing it being implemented is a different thing altogether and he is waiting to see the Southern Governors enforce the laws.

He added that Kaduna State has over 14 grazing reserves and he would be grateful if the Nigerian Government is able to assist them with N140 billion to develop the grazing reserves.

He made his submission during a visit to the headquarters of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In his words: “The northern state governors forum has already taken a position that open grazing is not a sustainable way of livestock production. And we must move towards ranching.

“But moving towards ranching cannot be done overnight. We have to have a plan, we have to have resources and we have to implement it sensibly. It is not a matter of populist legislation or saying tomorrow this or that. It is not a solution.

“We have taken a position as northern state governors and we are implementing that.

“And in my state, for instance, we are developing a huge ranch to centralise the herders. And that is the solution, a long time. But can it be done overnight? No.

“This project we are doing will cost us about N10 billion. The CBN is supporting us with about N7.5 billion. And it will take about two years to do. We will be settling about 1,500 Fulani herder families.

“And I hope that they will see that there are alternative ways of producing livestock instead of running up and down with cattle going to people’s farms to cause all kinds of problems. We want to solve the problem.

“What is unhelpful is to politicize the situation and pass legislation that you know that you cannot implement. So, we have taken a position and we are working round the clock to implement that position.

“And these herders emanate from the north and we are going to centralize them. We cannot do it overnight. We need billions of naira. This is just one ranch that is causing 10 billion. I have 14 grazing reserves in Kaduna State and I will like to convert them into ranching. Do I have 14 times 10 billion Naira? I don’t have.

“If the Federal Government will give me N140 billion, I will convert the other 13 into ranches and make sure that nobody comes out with a cow or sheep in Kaduna State because I will have enough ranches to take care of everybody. That is the solution. You can legislate but let us wait and see. And I wish them the best of luck.”