The Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES), a World Bank–supported initiative, has organized a sensitization meeting for stakeholders to strengthen conflict mitigation between livestock herders and farmers in Kano State.
The event, which took place on Tuesday in Kano, brought together security personnel, traditional title holders, farmers, and Fulani associations, as well as representatives of butchers and livestock groups.
Read Also: L-PRES: 1.4 million to benefit from livestock productivity support
Read Also: Kano Govt creates Livestock Ministry, appoints commissioner to oversee sector
SolaceBase reports that the program was jointly organized by L-PRES and the State Ministry of Agriculture, aimed to promote peaceful coexistence, conflict prevention, and sustainable livestock production.
Speaking, the State Project Coordinator, Dr. Salisu Muhammad Inuwa, said the meeting was part of efforts to raise awareness and promote dialogue among critical stakeholders to prevent crises between farmers and herders in the state.
Represented by Abubakar Muhammad Kabiru, the Animal Husbandry Officer of the L-PRES Project, the coordinator added that the engagement came at a crucial time when there was an urgent need to reshape the mindset of both pastoralists and farmers to live peacefully and understand each other’s needs.
He explained that many of the conflicts between farmers and herders occur as pastoralists move in search of greener pastures for their animals, often leading to disputes over farmlands and grazing routes.
He described the situation as a national concern that has slowed development and disrupted livelihoods in many communities.
Kabiru said the meeting provided an opportunity for participants to discuss strategies for reducing such conflicts through proper coordination, awareness, and collaboration among all parties.
Also speaking, Dr. Ahmad Abubakar from the L-PRES Project, presented papers at the event that focused on conflict mediation, the role of traditional rulers in resolving disputes, and early warning systems for crisis prevention.
He noted that the project plans to establish conflict mediation committees across the 44 local government areas of Kano State to receive complaints, identify problems, and find peaceful resolutions between farmers and herders.
According to him, “Prevention is better than cure. We want to stop these conflicts before they happen because most of them are resource-based and connected to climate change, water shortage, and encroachment on grazing routes.”
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Fulani Coalition and Sarkin Fulani of Karaye, Dr. Kamal S. Umar, commended the organizers for their efforts in addressing the long-standing conflict.
He described the event as timely and important, noting that it would help resolve issues of cattle routes that have been converted into farmlands, making it difficult for herders to move freely.
Dr. Umar called on Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to intervene by reviewing and revoking cases where cattle routes were sold or converted into farms, to prevent further crises between farmers and herders.
The sensitization meeting was organized by the Social Safeguard Office of the L-PRES Project in collaboration with the Kano State Ministry of Agriculture.
