With all modesty and humility, a multi-faceted approach to the current typically ‘controversial” and even “confrontational” issue of more effective functionality and development (in the case of the RUGA) and establishment and development (in the case of ranches, colonies, and grazing reserves) is earnestly suggested and recommended for the Nigerian Fulani herdsmen on the one hand; and all other herders and rearers of domestic and farm animals on the other hand; at least in the North, if not nationwide.
In this suggested and recommended approach towards once and for all settling the perennial and continuous herdsmen conflicts with farmers in Nigeria, RUGA should actually be meant for some of the herdsmen only, i.e., those among the herdsmen who are wont to be settled, or relatively settled in a particular location, for their cattle-herding activities.
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Ranches, on the other hand, should be established, developed, and meant for use by not only other relatively more affluent Fulani herdsmen through their benefactors. But also for affluent or at least relatively affluent livestock breeders, herders, and rearers, among the Fulani herdsmen and other Fulanis (i.e., the “House Fulanis”).
Ranches could also be established, developed, and made ready and available for use by all other interested Nigerians nationwide, with the wherewithal and affordability to do so. Such Nigerians could be Fulani herdsmen, their masters, bosses, or benefactors; “House Fulanis” (who generally live in the major cities and towns all over Northern Nigeria and elsewhere, unlike the RUGA “bush”-located Fulani herdsmen or “Bororos”, i.e., otherwise known as the “Bororo Fulanis”).
Ranches could also be meant for all other Nigerians, including other Fulanis (who may be neither the “Bororos” nor the the “House Fulanis” necessarily), “Hausa/Fulanis”, Hausas, non-Fulanis, non-Hausas, and all other Nigerians concerned that may be so interested, and that have the necessary wherewithal.
As a matter of fact, even foreigners as individuals, groups, or companies, with the interest, capacity, and wherewithal to invest in ranches, should be allowed to participate. Such foreigners (whose investment is usually expected to be quite substantial, unlike most of the Nigerian investors or partakers in ranching, whose investments may generally be lesser than the foreigners, with exceptions) are reasonably expected to invest in medium to large-sized ranches.
Such ranches to be owned by foreigners especially, could be expected reasonably, to rear hundreds to thousands of cattle and possibly other domesticated breed of farm animals, usually herded by both thes foreign and Nigerian animal farmers and herders, to provide meat for human beings.
Such other farm animals to be reared in the ranches by both the foreign and Nigerian animal farmers, rearers, and herders, as the case may be, could also include sheep, goats, and even a particular favourite Nigerian “bush meat” of a small animal found in the wild (but now being gradually domesticated) known as “grass-cutter”. And possibly some of such other “feasible” and viable “bush meat”. Especially such small animals or smaller ones, like the grass- cutters, which abound in the wild, bushes, and forests, all over Nigeria, West Africa, and Africa.
This could also be in addition to the ranchers being involved in poultry, whereby apart from chickens, guinea fowls and turkeys could also be reared along with the cattle within the perimeter of any given ranch. Furthermore, natural and/or artificial fish ponds of different sizes, quantities, and qualities, could also be developed and maintained by any rancher, who is additionally interested in fisheries or fish farming, in the same ranch owned and operated by him or her.
Cow colonies however, could be set aside for a mixed Fulani herdsmen, non-Fulani herdsmen, and other cattle rearers, of whatever persuasion, ethnicity, or nationality, over large areas, with total lengths and breadths ranging from tenths to hundreds of squares of kilometres per colony. This should be set aside or demarcated and delineated for interested, able, and worthy ranchers. This can be established, developed, utilized, made functional, and maintained all over the North; and in the South also, by interested local indigenes and fellow Nigerian citizens; or even foreign residents as individuals, groups, or companies, in the Southern States of Nigeria.
With regards to grazing reserves, they should be zoned and located in Inter-State Areas (cutting across different States in Nigeria, across the North, South, or from the North to the South, as the case may be) with the largest possible sizes of all these cow settlements or cattle-bound locations. Such sizes, being generally meant for itinerant cattle and other animal farmers, herders, or rearers, could range from between 100 Square Kilometers to 1000 Square Kilometers.
State Governments and their constituent Local Governments, could also start to not only show interest, finance, and support agriculture and such animal farming, herding, and ranching, technically and otherwise. But also actively engage, participate, and partake in such farming very actively, rather than hitherto.
The establishment and development of grazing reserves will accommodate the needs and requirements of the traditionally and conventionally conservative usually itinerant nomadic lifestyle of the Fulani herdsmen. Cattle rearing and herding has been their preoccupation for the past hundreds to thousands of years, and continuously.
Such an inherited and successive lifestyle for up to thousands of years of these herdsmen should therefore reasonably, and to be fair, equitable, and just to them, not be truncated, distracted, or interfered with. Such as by suddenly and abruptly compelling them and in fact sentencing them to a sedentary life, living, and lifestyle.
A sedentary non-nomadic lifestyle for the Fulani herdsmen especially, would obviously be quite inimical and contrary to their livelihood, customs, tradition, convention, and nomadic lifestyle. It is also contrary to nomadic practices not only of the Fulani herdsmen in Nigeria, but also other Fulani hersdsmen, Fulanis, and even the non-Fulani herdsmen; and other cattle rearers and herders in West Africa, Africa, and indeed other parts of the world as a whole at large.
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The OPINION / COLUMN is authored by independent contributors to the National Accord Newspaper. While contributors adhere to our editorial guidelines, they are not employed by the National Accord Newspaper. The perspectives and opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author and do not represent the views of the National Accord Newspaper or its staff.