•Fulani herdsmen and farmers
In a bid to achieve food sustainability and production in Nigeria, the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria and the Southwest farmers have signed a memorandum of understanding to promote peaceful coexistence between both parties in the zone.
The Southwest farmers under the aegis of Southwest Commodity Farmers Organisation and the National Chairman of the cattle breeders signed the peace accord during a day summit held in Ibadan, reports Daily Independent.
Addressing newsmen shortly after signing the peace accord, the coordinator of the Southwest Commodities Farmers Organization Olusegun Dasaolu said the summit was an eye opener towards finding a lasting solution to some challenges confronting farmers in the southwest states.
He said the memorandum of understanding symbolizes an agreement between the herders and Southwest to work in unity to improve food production and sustainability within the southwest region and by extension Nigeria.
Mr. Olusegun assured that what would is for both parties to identify genuine herders and farmers within the region for a better farming experience.
According to him, “What the memorandum of understanding with cattle breeders translates to is that the farmers in the Southwest and the herders have agreed to work together for the unity of farmers and the progress of Agriculture so that conflicts will be resolved amicably amongst the stakeholders.
“And from this moment on, the first step we are going to take is to identify the genuine herders in Southwest and who are the genuine farmers and we have agreed to connect better,” he added.
He said, “This is going to go a long way in solving food crisis in the sense that farmers will now feel secured to go back to their farms and so Agricultural production will increase and this going assist greatly in the renewed hope of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.”
On his part, the National Chairman of Miyyeti Allah, Othman Ngelzarma acknowledged that the event was an opportunity to chart a way forward on ensuring the security both Famers and herders in the region.
He believes that farmers and herders in the Southwest are now united as brothers and must collaborate effectively to identify and address any problematic elements within the pastoralist community in the region.
Meanwhile, the Southwest Director of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Abimbola Akeredolu, advocated for the continued deployment of technological solutions in agriculture to support farmers and enhance food production.
