The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has dumped the conventional open grazing system in Ondo State.
This was even as the Ondo State chapter of MACBAN embraced the feedlot operational system as an alternative to open grazing.
Secretary of MACBAN in the state, Mr. Ahmed Danna, the feedlot system would help herders increase profit and also end the age-long acrimony with the farmers.
Mr. Danna stated this, at the weekend, at the end of a five-day training for corporate bodies, general public and other stakeholders with interest in agricultural value-chain business with special emphasis on feedlot operational system, in Akure, the Ondo State capital.
The training was put together by the Ondo State Agribusiness Empowerment Centre (OSAEC), in collaboration with Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), to train and certify 150 pastoralists in cattle, sheep and goat value-chain business.
Danna, while noting that the training was a welcome development for MACBAN, said the use of technology for meat production would increase their produce and profit margin drastically.
He further called on the national body and other cattle rearers to key into the initiative put in place by Ondo State government, and appealed for funding for participants for effective start-up.
Chairman of OSAEC, Mr. Akin Olotu, assured the participants that the adoption of the feedlot system would not only improve productivity and profit for the farmers, but also reduce the clashes with the host communities.
Olotu emphasised that the state government chose to re-enact the ranching system introduced by late Chief Obafemi Awolowo in the Western Region, and it is partnering notable financial institutions for funding.
On his part, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu charged participants to look out for opportunities that abound in the entire value-chain of agriculture
Governor Akeredolu, who was represented by the Head of Service, Pastor John Adeyemi, emphasized that his administration saw the need to revamp and reintroduce feedlots as a variant of ranching with support of FAO.
He added that the move is another milestone geared towards creating jobs, ensuring food security and promoting peaceful co-existence among inhabitants of the state via eradication of farmers/herders clashes.