Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - STAR INFO: 11 states donate 55,000 hectares for grazing project

This is typical Nigerian "quick-quick", "ashawo" public policy that ignores years and reams of policy-relevant research and existing knowledge.  I can't for a moment believe that Minister Audu Ogbe and his cheer leading academics/intelligentsia have never heard of Garrett Hardin's "Tragedy of the Commons." Unless the "policy" has made provisions for availability and access to water and grass, this water-side "policy" will go the way of its predecessors. Just take a look at the mess at the internally displaced peoples' (IDP) camps and get a glimpse of what could happen with 19.5 million cows.

Besides, does the current Nigerian government have the will, sincerity, impartiality and capacity to compel all the herdsmen to now encamp in these so-called "ranches"? Who will manage these "ranches"? What "common resource" management management model(s) would be adopted in these "ranches"? 

Let's continue to remember that these cattle are NOT publicly owned. When are we going to "donate" land for pigs and ducks? The immediate and long-term implications of this disaster and insanity of a policy were probably not considered. And, just down the road at Ahmadu Bello University lies Nigeria's most sophisticated agriculture and agricultural management & extension services capacity and infrastructure! 

Peace as always!

Okey

On Thu, Jun 2, 2016 at 10:00 AM, John Mbaku <jmbaku@weber.edu> wrote:

While this may sound like a perfect solution to the conflict between cattle herders and farmers, policymakers have failed to understand why there is a conflict in the first place. If land is set aside for the grazing of cattle--555,000 hectares--that still may not resolve the problem. For one thing, the problem has not been one of lack of access to land necessarily, but one of access to "cattle feed and water." This is the reason why cattle owners travel from north to south and vice versa, as the seasons change--they are searching for "grass" and "water". If they are forced to remain in a fixed location, this scheme can only function effectively if there is enough feed and water for all the cattle throughout the year. However, given the problems that usually accompany common access to grazing lands, it is not likely that all cattle owners will have enough food and water to take care of their cattle, an outcome that will force them to return to their migratory ways. 

On Thu, Jun 2, 2016 at 9:40 AM, Mobolaji Aluko <alukome@gmail.com> wrote:

SUMMARY

QUOTE

He said the 2011 National Agricultural Sample Survey indicated that Nigeria was endowed with an estimated

*19.5 million cattle,

*72.5 million goats,

*41.3 million sheep,

*7.1 million pigs and

*28,000 camels.

Accordingly, the minister said the country had

*145 million chickens,

*11. 6 million ducks,

*1.2 million turkeys and

*974, 499 donkeys.

UNQUOTE

My People:

Great information from Minister Ogbeh, but.....

There are certainly more "goats" in Nigeria than the above - that is why all our yams are being eaten so voraciously, if all the "Gates" (Nimasa-, Dasuki-, Diezani-, etc, etc.) being revealed are to be taken into account.  Also, there are also many more "turkeys" than listed, who allow so many goats to roam around so freely - and sometimes even with ethnic and political support from these turkeys.

And there you have it.

Bolaji Aluko

PS: Kudos to the states that have donated land for the grazing project.  Way to go, rather than belly-aching meat-lessly.  I donate 200 hectares on behalf of Ekiti State - that is the size of Federal University Otuoke (2 miles by 1 mile).  Governor Fayose should "bury" his goons and guns.

VANGUARD

11 states donate 55,000 hectares for grazing project

ON JUNE 2, 20164:04 PMIN NEWSCOMMENTS

Abuja – Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh says 11 states have provided 55,000 hectares to establish ranches to curb farmers and pastoralists clashes in their states.

Ogbeh made this known at a news conference on Thursday in Abuja.

Ogbeh said the states are Plateau, Kaduna, Kano, Gombe, Katsina, Taraba, Niger, Adamawa, Jigawa, Sokoto and the FCT.

He said of all the enterprise in the livestock sector, only the poultry industry had achieved an appreciable level of commercialisation.

Ogbeh said other industries in the livestock sector were predominantly in the hands of subsistence farmers with pastoralist system of production contributing over 90 per cent of cattle production in the country.

He said the 2011 National Agricultural Sample Survey indicated that Nigeria was endowed with an estimated 19.5 million cattle, 72.5 million goats, 41.3 million sheep, 7.1 million pigs and 28,000 camels.

Accordingly, the minister said the country had 145 million chickens, 11. 6 million ducks, 1.2 million turkeys and 974, 499 donkeys.

Ogbeh said this impressive statistics which had made Nigeria number one in livestock in Africa had not met the national demand of animal protein or contributed to the GDP over the years.

He decried the low milk production in Nigeria as a cow produced one litre of milk a day while a cow in Saudi Arabia or Brazil produced 30 to 40 litres.

"Saudi Arabia produces 4.7 million litres of milk daily while Nigeria imports about 1.3 billion dollar worth of milk annually to make up deficit.

"The way forward in improving our livestock and dairy industry is to intensify efforts on adding value to the industry along the respective livestock value chains.

"In line with our goal of attaining self sufficiency in animal protein, this administration has set out to establish ranches to be planted with high quality improved tropical grass and legume species.

"We shall provide irrigation for all year commercial fodder production to enhance settlement of pastoralist and ensure cattle, sheep and goat improvement through an expanded breeding programme through artificial insemination.

"We shall group dairy farmers in clusters, build their capacity and equip them with milk collection facilities and facilitate single digit loan for them,'' he said.

The minister said there was a new disease outbreak affecting maize production in some parts of Edo and in the South West of the country.

He gave the name of the disease as "army worm'', adding that relevant research institutes were working on it and the ministry was monitoring the level of threat it posed.

Ogbeh urged farmers not to panic, adding that the ministry would take further action if the disease is not controlled within a short time.

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JOHN MUKUM MBAKU, ESQ.
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Graduate Certificate in Environmental and Natural Resources Law
Nonresident Senior Fellow, The Brookings Institution
Attorney & Counselor at Law (Licensed in Utah)
Brady Presidential Distinguished Professor of Economics &  John S. Hinckley Fellow
Department of Economics
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(801) 626-7423 Fax

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