Cross River to Create Ranches and Livestock Areas to Reduce Conflicts

The Cross River State Government plans to set up ranches, develop pastures, and create livestock production clusters. This is part of efforts to reduce conflicts between farmers and herders in the state.

Liyel Imoukhuede, the special adviser to Governor Bassey Otu on Livestock Development, shared this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Calabar on Saturday.

Mr Imoikhuede mentioned that the government is shifting from open and unmanaged livestock movement to organized livestock production.

He added that the state is looking for suitable land for ranching, demonstration farms, pasture development, and livestock production clusters.

According to him, land access will be properly planned and done within the state’s legal and community rules.

He explained that modern ranching needs more than just land for cattle. Water, pasture, veterinary services, animal health infrastructure, roads, security, feed, and market connections are also very important.

“The objective is not simply to provide land for cattle. A modern ranch requires water, pasture, veterinary services, animal health infrastructure, roads, security, feed, and market linkages,” he said.

The special adviser pointed out that Cross River's location along an international livestock corridor makes it very important to control livestock movement properly.

He mentioned the Border Animal Holding and Quarantine Facility at Mfum-Ajassor in Etung as a key place for controlling animal movement, tracking diseases, and safe cross-border trade.

He explained that the government’s approach aims to protect farmers while giving pastoralists a workable and organized economic system.

“Our philosophy is simple; farmers must be protected, pastoralists must have a viable economic system, and livestock production must be organized in a way that reduces avoidable conflict,” he said.