ECOWAS Parliament seeks collaborative actions in solving transhumance, herdsmen crisis
Ifeanyi Valentine, Monrovia.
The Law making body of the Economic Community of West Africa states, ECOWAS Parliament, has called for a collaborative effort of all stakeholders in solving the problem of transhumance and conflict of herdsmen and farmers across the sub region.
This call was made following the conclusion of the three days Parliamentary Seminar on Transhumance and Intercommunity conflicts in the ECOWAS Region, held at Monrovia, Liberia.
Stakeholders including national governments, regional organizations like the ECOWAS Commission, Regional and National Legislative Assemblies, Farmer and Livestock Organizations, Private Sector, and Civil Society Organizations were urged to join hands in solving this menace that has eaten into the Region.
The Parliament after the three days interactions with resource persons and extensive debate stated that transhumance and the conflict between herdsmen and farmers is a very complex and intricate issue.
They added that the effect has been compounded by the penetration of bandits, criminals, kidnappers and terrorists who have access to small arms and light weapons, which they use to carryout deadly criminal activities, resulting to deaths and property destruction.
The ECOWAS Parliament agreed that transhumance conflict and conflict between herdsmen and farmers is more of a socio-economic issue than acts of terrorism.
They added that there is no political agenda between the protagonists in the conflict, and terrorist activities are invariable underpinned with political motives. The terrorist acts being perpetrated under the guise of transhumance are basically security issues compounded by failure of the state and its relevant organs responsible for the maintenance of peace, law and order.
It is on this milieu that the Parliament has called on the National governments to formulate and implement policies to modernize agricultural production and productivity; this will include both the crop and livestock.
They recommended further that herdsmen should be encouraged, trained and supported to raise their livestock using modern scientific method and improved animal husbandry practices, supported with provision of necessary inputs life feeds for their animals, secured pasture areas, adequate water supply, accessible veterinary services, and access to markets with proper prices for their produce.
While noting that there is need for adequate infrastructure to be put in place, the ECOWAS Parliament recommended also that governments should build and provide necessary infrastructure like good roads, learning institution, hospitals and other health facilities, and related industries for processing of herdsmen and farmers produce, adding value to them to ensure their competitiveness in markets.
They urge further that herdsmen should be encouraged to commercialized livestock production, breeding for milk and meat production to generate income for their socio-economic development, as this will prevent overstocking of animals in limited land areas.
Similarly, the ECOWAS Parliament requested that the ECOWAS Commission as well as National Parliament to implement regional regulations and framework that govern the movement of livestock across borders of various countries in the West Africa.
They added that need for the establishment of strategic surveillance centers to monitor conflicts of herdsmen and farmers, and other community disagreements and flashpoints that can escalate into deadly conflicts cannot be overemphasized.
Amongst other recommendations, was the need for Parliamentarians, government agencies and other stakeholders to organize sensitization and dialogue between herdsmen and farmers and with the aim of coming up with solutions to the problems and conflict bedeviling the sub-region.
Speaking at a media interview, Speaker of the Parliament, Rt. Honourable Moustapha Cisse Lo said the need for this collaboration was to provide a lasting solution to the intercommunity conflict as well as various conflicts associated to transhumance.
“There is need for the harmonization of ECOWAS member countries when it comes to the laws regulating humans. The laws regarding to this regulations should as well be reviewed by the Commission so that the member state of our region will implement them” Cisse Lo said.
Similarly, Honourable Mao Arukwe Ohuabunwa of Nigeria, in an interview said that the proper education of Herdsmen as well as joint efforts of both National government, states government, and other stake holders will go a long way in addressing the issue,
He added that various member states should key into a modernized way of cattle and livestock breeding, a system without loss of lives and property.
“The Commission should review necessary policy and regulations that will suit the entire states and address the problem” Mao concluded.
The Law making body of the Economic Community of West Africa states, ECOWAS Parliament, has called for a collaborative effort of all stakeholders in solving the problem of transhumance and conflict of herdsmen and farmers across the sub region.
This call was made following the conclusion of the three days Parliamentary Seminar on Transhumance and Intercommunity conflicts in the ECOWAS Region, held at Monrovia, Liberia.
Stakeholders including national governments, regional organizations like the ECOWAS Commission, Regional and National Legislative Assemblies, Farmer and Livestock Organizations, Private Sector, and Civil Society Organizations were urged to join hands in solving this menace that has eaten into the Region.
The Parliament after the three days interactions with resource persons and extensive debate stated that transhumance and the conflict between herdsmen and farmers is a very complex and intricate issue.
They added that the effect has been compounded by the penetration of bandits, criminals, kidnappers and terrorists who have access to small arms and light weapons, which they use to carryout deadly criminal activities, resulting to deaths and property destruction.
The ECOWAS Parliament agreed that transhumance conflict and conflict between herdsmen and farmers is more of a socio-economic issue than acts of terrorism.
They added that there is no political agenda between the protagonists in the conflict, and terrorist activities are invariable underpinned with political motives. The terrorist acts being perpetrated under the guise of transhumance are basically security issues compounded by failure of the state and its relevant organs responsible for the maintenance of peace, law and order.
It is on this milieu that the Parliament has called on the National governments to formulate and implement policies to modernize agricultural production and productivity; this will include both the crop and livestock.
They recommended further that herdsmen should be encouraged, trained and supported to raise their livestock using modern scientific method and improved animal husbandry practices, supported with provision of necessary inputs life feeds for their animals, secured pasture areas, adequate water supply, accessible veterinary services, and access to markets with proper prices for their produce.
While noting that there is need for adequate infrastructure to be put in place, the ECOWAS Parliament recommended also that governments should build and provide necessary infrastructure like good roads, learning institution, hospitals and other health facilities, and related industries for processing of herdsmen and farmers produce, adding value to them to ensure their competitiveness in markets.
They urge further that herdsmen should be encouraged to commercialized livestock production, breeding for milk and meat production to generate income for their socio-economic development, as this will prevent overstocking of animals in limited land areas.
Similarly, the ECOWAS Parliament requested that the ECOWAS Commission as well as National Parliament to implement regional regulations and framework that govern the movement of livestock across borders of various countries in the West Africa.
They added that need for the establishment of strategic surveillance centers to monitor conflicts of herdsmen and farmers, and other community disagreements and flashpoints that can escalate into deadly conflicts cannot be overemphasized.
Amongst other recommendations, was the need for Parliamentarians, government agencies and other stakeholders to organize sensitization and dialogue between herdsmen and farmers and with the aim of coming up with solutions to the problems and conflict bedeviling the sub-region.
Speaking at a media interview, Speaker of the Parliament, Rt. Honourable Moustapha Cisse Lo said the need for this collaboration was to provide a lasting solution to the intercommunity conflict as well as various conflicts associated to transhumance.
“There is need for the harmonization of ECOWAS member countries when it comes to the laws regulating humans. The laws regarding to this regulations should as well be reviewed by the Commission so that the member state of our region will implement them” Cisse Lo said.
Similarly, Honourable Mao Arukwe Ohuabunwa of Nigeria, in an interview said that the proper education of Herdsmen as well as joint efforts of both National government, states government, and other stake holders will go a long way in addressing the issue,
He added that various member states should key into a modernized way of cattle and livestock breeding, a system without loss of lives and property.
“The Commission should review necessary policy and regulations that will suit the entire states and address the problem” Mao concluded.
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