MAKURDI: Member representing Gwer-East/Gwer-West Federal constituency of Benue State at the House of Representatives (HoR), Arch Asema Achado, has warned the state government against prioritizing livestock development, against the implementation of the Benue State Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law (Anti-Open Grazing Law.)

He also condemned plans by the state government to cede the Livestock Breeding and Investigation Centre, Raav, situated in Gwer-East Local Government Area (LGA) of the state, to the Federal Government (FG) for what he described as “structured livestock management system, involving the cultivation of fodder for cattle on 500 hectares of land.”

Recall that last weekend, the Minister for Livestock Development, Idi Muktar Maiha, had said the federal government was considering taking over the Center at Raav, for the production of fodder.

Achado observed that rather than cede the Center to the FG, “the Benue State Government should boost agricultural production in the state through agricultural land development schemes and mechanised agriculture.”

Furthermore, the Parliamentarian called on the state government to address the inccesant attacks by herdsmen on Benue communities, stressing that open grazing has led to the destruction of farmlands and other property by herders.

In a statement signed by Mendah Manasseh, Personal Assistant on Media and Publicity to the lawmaker, Achado, insisted that the implementation of the Anti-Open Grazing Law would checkmate the influx of herders and control the killings perpetrated by marauding herdsmen.

https://independent.ng/achado-warns-benue-on-prioritizing-livestock-development-against-anti-open-grazing-law/