As part of plans to check the incessant clashes between herdsmen and farmers in Ondo state, the state government has constituted a 12-man committee for the implementation of National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP) of the Federal Government.

While constituting the committee,  the state governor, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu said the state government has keyed into the Federal Government’s plan in order to create employment and check clashes between herders and farmers in the state.

The committee, headed by Mr Akin Olotu, comprises the Director of Livestock Services, the Director of Veterinary Services, Professor Sola Agbede, Dr Akinduro, Mrs Osanyibi, Tope Ransome, Pastor Owa, Gbenga Obareye and Mr Ogunmodede.

Akeredolu, who was represented by his deputy, Hon. Agboola Ajayi, said the state government would always support the effort of the Federal Government to transform the lives of the people of the country.

Speaking when the NLTP team led by the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Agriculture, Dr Andrew Kwasari paid a visit to the government, Ajayi said the step of the Federal Government was in the right direction as it would tackle the myriads of challenges facing the people in the country.

He explained that the National Livestock Transformation Plan of the Federal Government is in the interest of the farmers, herders and consumers.

According to him,some of the steps taken by the Akeredolu administration included the disbursement of N200 million loan to poultry farmers and the establishment of 500,000 eggs/day processing plant.

He disclosed that a pig village is in the offing while the state government has developed the homestead cattle rearing arrangement.

The governor justified the total ban on the importation of food items into the country by the Federal Government, saying this would boost food production and increase the earning of farmers.

The leader of the team Kwasari, noted that the Federal Government has put in place a 10-year livestock transformation plan with two options of pastoral pilot scheme mostly subscribed to by states in the North and the ranching option which Ondo state had signified willingness to join.

According to him, the plan aimed to address incessant farmers’/herder clashes as it would bring about transformation by gradually introducing pastoral on better ways ranching.

He said the mission of his team in the state was to train the committee set up by the state government on how to drive the programme in the state.

Olotu who is the Chairman of the Committee said the Southwest geo-political zone consumes N1.5 billion worth of cows on daily basis with the state eating substantial part of the meat.

He said the state government would increase the production of meat and milk locally in order to check capital flight and create employment.

SOURCE: TRIBUNE