The Ogun State government says it has put a stop to the incessant clashes between farmers and herders in some parts of the state.
The government said contrary to what happened last year where the clashes between farmers and herders led to the loss of lives and property, the state has consolidated its efforts to foster a peaceful relationship between the two parties.
The state Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Samson Odedina, said this while speaking with our correspondent on Tuesday.
Odedina said the government had put in place strong machineries to ensure clashes between herders and farmers in the state do not recur.
He said the state governor, Dapo Abiodun, has facilitated some efforts which had yielded positive results between the farmers and herders in the state .
Odedina said proper identification of farmers and herders has been done and regular meetings between the leaders of the two groups as well as creation of rapid response unit in the ministry to act when necessary also helped.
He said, “When the governor assumed office , the first thing he did was to approve a committee of farmers and herders and the governor also approved office for the committee at the veterinary office, Ita-Eko. So we meet every month.
“These stakeholders in Ogun have a way of identification. We know all the farmers and we know all the herders.
“It was easy for us to stop the clashes. Farmers and herders are already working together .The farmers’ leaders know the herders’ leaders. We have already achieved some levels of peace and understanding to the nationwide issue.”
Meanwhile, the commissioner said the state has empowered over two million small scale farmers in the state within the year.
His words: “We have worked with 70,000 farmers in seven value chains including cassava, rice, cocoa, oil palm and aquaculture, so we intend to double that in the coming year.”
The Commissioner also revealed that in 2022, 40,000 small rural farmers will benefit from the state’s economic transformation project
According to him, it is part of the government’s plan to make the state’s agricultural sector a tool for economic transformation.
He also disclosed that the government in the coming year will do more to support the private sector in the aspect of production and processing.
Credit: PUNCH