Chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders’ Association of Nigeria (MACABAN), Kwara State, Alhaji Usman Adamu, has welcomed plans by the state government to establish grazing reserves for herdsmen.

He said the plan if effectively carried out would end the frequent confrontation between farmers and herders.

The state government had last week said it would provide grazing reserves and stock routes across the state to enable herders move their live stock about without much ado.

This decision which was communicated to newsmen by the state Information and Communications Commissioner, Prince Tunji Moronfoye, at the end of last week’s executive council meeting, was sequel to last year’s farmers/herders’ clash in Alapa community which left several people dead.

Based on the recommendations of a fact-finding committee put in place to probe the hostilities, the government came out with a white paper which, among others, informed the decision to establish the grazing reserves and stock routes to prevent future clashes between herdsmen and farmers in villages and settlements across the state.

The government equally advised Fulani people to lower the intensity of their ceremonies and avoid the use of dangerous weapons during events.

State chairman of Miyyeti Allah, in an interview with Daily Trust yesterday, welcomed government’s decision and urged it to implement the recommendations to the latter.

Alhaji Usman noted that the friction between herdsmen and farmers is due to the absence of grazing reserves.

He recalled that several governments in the past promised to provide grazing areas but failed, expressing hope that the present government would match words with action.

He also advised members of the association to live peacefully and harmoniously with their host communities.