Wednesday, 23rd June 2021: A Professor of Animal Science from the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, IAR&T, Moor Plantation Ibadan, Prof. Ajayi Festus Temitope has highlighted the benefits in embracing ranching as a form of cattle rearing in Nigeria.

Speaking in an Exclusive Interview with CEOAFRICA in Ibadan, Prof Ajayi, the head, livestock improvement programme of the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training Ibadan, Nigeria said all the stakeholders stand to benefits enormously by using the ranching system in the rearing of cows in Nigeria.

According to the animal scientist, “The animals’ rears in a ranch are far better than animals moved around in pastoral system of rearing. So, these animals do better in all ramifications.

“Government can generate revenue if ranching is embraced in Nigeria. And the animals would be better off. It would definitely be a source of revenue for the government.

“The life of the cattle would begin and end there (in the ranch). this will have facilities for the treatment in the ranch and the productivity of the animals’ increases in the ranch, even the quality of meat is better compared to that of the animals been moved round.

The University don commended the Southern governors for their decision to ban open grazing of cows in their states but he said they should do more by encouraging their local government and their Ministries of agriculture to invest in the ranching business.

“The southern governors banned open grazing but there should be an alternative. And that is ranching. And this would make them to have more funds. Every local government in a state can even own a ranch.

“The Fulani herdsmen can move their cattle there with a spelt-out contract, how long, how many years the cattle would be in the ranch. They would pay as long as the cattle are in the ranch to the owners- be it private owners or government.

“So, it is a good way to end all these clashes with farmers.

Prof Ajayi emphasized that there is need for proper education of all the stakeholders for them to key in and embrace ranching.

“Another way is to be able to train all the stakeholders.

“Starting from the cattle owners, then those middle men between the cattle owners and the Fulanis.

“If there is better organisation, this problem would be solved within two years. There is need for a well organised training where scholars, professionals would interact with the cattle owners and at the same time interact with the middlemen between the Fulani and the cattle owners, speak the language they understand, so that they would be able to know the importance of rearing through ranches,” he explained.

He said, ranching is not a Nigeria thing, it is done all over the world as the best way of rearing cattle for profitability.

In his words, “The way forward is to embrace ranching.

“Ranching is a modern way of rearing cattle in the whole world. Talk of Europe, America, in any developed nation, ranching is embraced.

“Ranching is devoting a large expanse of land for rearing cattle, it can be up to 10,000 square meters, it can be called a farm estate.”

Earlier, Prof Ajayi had identified the cause of the aggression between herders/farmers and others in the society stating that it was due to lack or shortage of land either by the people or the farmers or herders noting it was a long-time problem.

“The problem of herdsmen and farmers is a long-time issue but in recent times, the problem escalated to the extent that lives were lost and properties damaged, estimated to billons of naira. This is because the problem has not really been looked into in a way that it can be solved.

“First of all, when we look at the problem. The problem should be adequately analysed, identify the cause or causes and proffer solutions.

“The cause of the problem is due to inadequate land for grazing and animals are increasing day in day out. The increase in the number of these animals entails that there would be adequate grazing land for them. And because of urbanization and because of the competition for land between animal and man resulted to the shortage of grazing materials for herdsmen and because of this, the herdsmen is looking for forage for the animals. Man felt so threatened because the animals are been herded around him, his property, etc., that is the reason why we are having this aggression,” he explained

The Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T), has recorded grand breaking innovations under the present administration led by the Executive Director Prof. Veronica Obatolu.

Recall that CEOAFRICA earlier reported that IAR&T unveils its ongoing research on the indigenous materials kenaf fibre used for the production of Plaster of Paris, popularly known as POP ceiling as an alternative to the Siza fibre being used for the production.

If this research is concluded, this will save the country billions of Foreign Exchange Reserves.