By Ahmed AHMED
The Chairman Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) Bauchi State Alhaji Sadiq Ibrahim Ahmed has urged the government to provide loans and fertilizer to pastoralists and farmers to earn their livelihood.
Ibrahim stated this in an interview with Journalists on Thursday in Bauchi, saying the only palliative that would ameliorate this hardship is to provide loans and fertilizer to pastoralists and farmers.
He said government have good policies and with good intentions but the implementation become a serious national issue
“Our governments should provide sustainable palliative to farmers and herders such as fertilizer, hybrid cattle, modern grazing system for cattles and enabling environment to operate.
“To also provide loans for pastoralists dealers, rearers and vendors to become self reliant, this will go along in cushioning the effect of fuel subsidy removal.
“We also need support from the government to enhance our cattle breeding business and farming,” he said.
Ibrahim urged his members to remain focused,up and doing as well as stay in one place to reare their cattle and stop moving from one place to another.
He decreed that removal of fuel subsidy and increase in price of petroleum has forced cattle supply in markets to drop in the State.
The Chairman said pastoralists also move from one place to another to buy and sell cattle as a means of their livelihood.
“There is low supply of cattle in the market because the dealers and rearers complaint of hike in fare so they operate in a lost.
“Shortage of cattle supply in markets and low patronage is affecting the business of pastoralists in the state,” he said..
Ibrahim reiterated that people don’t care about meat but food to eat, so therefore meat is no more a necessity.
Ibrahim said breeding of cattle has reduced because of hike in transportation fare and security challenges
“Pastoralists are not different from any other citizens they buy food, travel around pay for services among others, they are also experiencing the hardship” he said