The future of Nigeria’s food security hangs in the balance due to the continued clash between farmers and herders. So many enterprising people have abandoned their farmlands for fear of being attacked. Very recently, I had a conversation with an agricultural produce transporter who preferred anonymity, lamented that he was once booked to transport tones of yam tubers from Benue for a client, only for the client’s barn to be attacked afterwards. According to him, the tubers of yams looted away, and some others destroyed were worth millions.
” I was a big farmer in Vandekya in Benue state and was able to break even in almost everything until this monster called herdsmen cropped up. I have stopped going to my farm for fear of being killed because we don’t even know when they can come,” he added with a look of frustration.
This menace, according to observers, has gradually led to a sharp decline in the quantity of food supplies in the markets and, in the long run, a threat to Nigeria’s hopes of food security. The clashes, often fueled by competition for land and resources, have become a pressing national security concern for the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Previous administrations, in response to the crisis, launched several initiatives aimed at addressing the root causes of the conflict. These include: National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP), which was launched in 2019. This 10-year plan aims to modernize the livestock sector, promote ranching, and reduce conflicts between farmers and herders. There was also the Rural Grazing Area (RUGA) Policy, Introduced in 2019, which seeks to establish designated grazing areas for herders, reducing encroachment on farmland.
Another effort was the policy of Grazing Reserves: The government has begun rehabilitating 417 grazing reserves across the country, providing alternative grazing areas for herders. All of these moves were crowned with the government’s deployment of security forces to conflict-prone areas and the establishment of special task forces to address cattle rustling and banditry.
The recent kidnapping of locals in Kwara had worsened the fears in the agrarian communities across the area and Nigeria as a whole, with many fleeing the areas and leaving huge deficits in the produce output of the area within this farming season
Despite these efforts, the government’s response has faced criticism for being inadequate and ineffective. Now, let’s look at the issues this way: many farmers and herders feel that the government has not adequately consulted with them in developing solutions, and so they do not give the necessary support in making these policies real. While this is being lamented, the presence of armed groups and bandits has exacerbated the conflict, making it difficult for the government to establish secure grazing areas. There have also been conflicts over land ownership and usage rights continue to fuel tensions between farmers and herders.
Another limitation is the climate. Environmental degradation and climate change have reduced the availability of grazing land, exacerbating competition for resources ² ⁴ ⁵.
To get these policies and more working, the Nigerian government must foster dialogue and collaboration with farmers, herders, and local leaders to develop context-specific solutions. The government must also prioritize security measures to protect lives and property, and address the root causes of banditry and cattle rustling.
Furthermore, the Federal Government should support and promote alternative livelihoods for herders, such as ranching and livestock production, and provide support for farmers to improve productivity. In conclusion, there is a need to implement climate-smart agriculture practices and support environmental conservation efforts to reduce competition for resources.
