By EMMANUEL ANTSWEN

A socio-cultural organisation, Gyaluwa Advancement Forum, has urged President Bola Tinubu to reject open grazing and adopt ranching as the best form of animal husbandry.

The forum said this in a statement jointly signed by its Chairman, Prof. Philip Bagu, and Secretary General, Mr Fabian Mbapuu, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Makurdi.

The plea, they said, is a reaction to the Presidential Livestock Reforms Implementation Committee?s recommendation that both open grazing and ranching should coexist for the next decade.

They acknowledged the government?s efforts towards resolving the longstanding conflicts between farmers and herders.

The forum, however, said that the proposal has failed to address the realities on the ground.

According to them, the Tyoshin people of Benue and other regions in the country have suffered severe consequences of open grazing.

?The herders-farmers conflict in these areas has resulted in countless atrocities, including the brutal loss of lives, displacement of communities, destruction of farmlands, and economic devastation.

?Open grazing has historically been a significant source of conflict, and permitting its continuation, even temporarily, risks exacerbating these tensions and undermining the desired peace.

?We acknowledge that ranching presents a more sustainable and modern alternative.

?It aligns with global best practices, offering a controlled system for livestock management that reduces the risk of violent conflicts, enhances land use efficiency, and contributes to the nation?s economic growth.

?Moreover, ranching supports environmental conservation by mitigating the adverse effects of open grazing, such as deforestation and desertification critical concerns in the face of climate change,? the statement stated.

The group further urged the government to reconsider its stance on open grazing and instead support the exclusive adoption of ranching.

According to them, the approach not only aligns with national security and peace efforts but also promotes economic development, environmental sustainability, and agricultural modernisation.

They also pledged to collaborate with the government to ensure the smooth implementation of the reforms. (NAN)

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