Kwara earmarks 1,000 hectares for pastural development
At least one hundred thousand hectares of land have been earmarked for pastoral development at Gida Magajiya Cattle Ranch in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara state.
The State Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs. Oloruntoyosi Thomas made this known during a stakeholders engagement visit to the Emir of Kaiama, Alhaji Muazu Shehu Omar, and his emirate council at the palace in Kaiama.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs Funke Sokoya, the Commissioner informed the Emir and his Council Chiefs of the state government’s intention to use 1,000 hectares out of the 3,624 hectares of land gazetted for ranching and other livestock activities.
According to her, “We have about 3,624 hectares of gazetted land and we are planning to plant pasture seed on 1,000 hectares for a start, this will reduce the conflict between herders and farmers and will also serve as an economic benefit for both livestock farmers and residents of the communities in the area by creating job opportunities for the youths in the communities. Livestock farmers will also have the opportunity to access quality feeds without much stress.”
She, however, thanked the support of the Emir and the good people of the community, while soliciting for more collaboration to have a smooth and successful implementation of the project in the community.
In his remarks, the L-PRES State Project Coordinator, Mr Olusoji Oyawoye said the state government is planning a large-scale pastoral development in the ranch to reduce open grazing, forestall farmers/herders clashes, as well as create employment opportunities in the livestock value chains, adding that the mission of the team was to have the understanding of the farmers and be properly informed about the government’s initiative, adding that pasture planting would commence by the next raining season.
In his response, the Emir of Kaiama, Alhaji Muazu Shehu Omar expressed his appreciation to the team and the state government for the laudable initiative coupled with the ongoing rehabilitation of the Bode-Saadu to Kaiama road, noting that when completed, the projects would boost both social and economic lives of the people in the area given its strategic position to food security of the State and the country at large.
The Monarch, however, assured the team of his people’s support to realise the government’s vision of transforming the livestock sector of Kwara State.
