ECOWAS urge member states to adopt regulations on livestock and pastoralism
Ifeanyi Valentine, Monrovia
In the bid to curb incessant farmers and herders crisis as well as
other intercommunity crisis which occurs in several member states, the
Economic Community of West African State, (ECOWAS) has called on
government of member states to implement the regulations on livestock
and pastoralism across the region.
This was indicated in a presentation on the ECOWAS Legal framework on
Transhumance and intercommunity conflict management presented by Dr.
Fouad Mohammed representing the Director of Agriculture and Rural
Development, ECOWAS Commission at the Parliamentary Seminar on
Transhumance and intercommunity conflicts, holding in Monrovia,
Liberia.
Fouad stated that Pastoralism is an essential component of the West
Africa state economy; hence there is a necessity for it to be
regulated in other for It provide high-value and at same time reduces
conflict and insecurity.
Furthermore, he recalled that there is a decision of 1998 and a
regulation that as adopted in 2003 to regulate the transhumance
activities across the region.
He said the effective implementation of the regulation provides the
organisation of information and awareness-raising campaigns or
sessions, communication, training and education for transhumant
livestock farmers and the various stakeholders involved in
transhumance in the zones of departure, transit and reception of
transhumant herds.
He added further that “It provides also, the setting up and/or
revitalisation of pastoral organisations at national level so that
they contribute to better transhumance management, as well as to the
prevention and management of conflicts related to transhumance”.
He continued “the regulation is going to make things better for member
states, for them to be able to move freely within the region and also
to curtail the spread of diseases. Because once you depart from your
country to another country, you will be monitored and checked that you
are not taking any diseases across to infect your local host”.
Furthermore, he added that the need for compliance by pastoralists,
transhumants, farmers and other components of rural society with
ECOWAS Community regulations relating to transhumance between Member
States cannot be over emphasied.
Speaking at a media interview on the sidelines of the regulations,
Fouad said most member states have not implemented the regulations in
their countries.
“Just last year, the ministerial council agreed to review the
regulations, because of some member states who are saying that the
regulations do not conform to the reality in their state. Unfortunately most of the member states were not able to implement
this regulation in their countries so we couldn’t even identify the
areas to review this regulation” he stated.
He stressed that “the regulation is put in place to checkmate that
there is free movement of integration which is a major objective of
ECOWAS.
He said “The regulations are there, the implementation is slow, but we
are getting there”
Ifeanyi Valentine, Monrovia
In the bid to curb incessant farmers and herders crisis as well as
other intercommunity crisis which occurs in several member states, the
Economic Community of West African State, (ECOWAS) has called on
government of member states to implement the regulations on livestock
and pastoralism across the region.
This was indicated in a presentation on the ECOWAS Legal framework on
Transhumance and intercommunity conflict management presented by Dr.
Fouad Mohammed representing the Director of Agriculture and Rural
Development, ECOWAS Commission at the Parliamentary Seminar on
Transhumance and intercommunity conflicts, holding in Monrovia,
Liberia.
Fouad stated that Pastoralism is an essential component of the West
Africa state economy; hence there is a necessity for it to be
regulated in other for It provide high-value and at same time reduces
conflict and insecurity.
Furthermore, he recalled that there is a decision of 1998 and a
regulation that as adopted in 2003 to regulate the transhumance
activities across the region.
He said the effective implementation of the regulation provides the
organisation of information and awareness-raising campaigns or
sessions, communication, training and education for transhumant
livestock farmers and the various stakeholders involved in
transhumance in the zones of departure, transit and reception of
transhumant herds.
He added further that “It provides also, the setting up and/or
revitalisation of pastoral organisations at national level so that
they contribute to better transhumance management, as well as to the
prevention and management of conflicts related to transhumance”.
He continued “the regulation is going to make things better for member
states, for them to be able to move freely within the region and also
to curtail the spread of diseases. Because once you depart from your
country to another country, you will be monitored and checked that you
are not taking any diseases across to infect your local host”.
Furthermore, he added that the need for compliance by pastoralists,
transhumants, farmers and other components of rural society with
ECOWAS Community regulations relating to transhumance between Member
States cannot be over emphasied.
Speaking at a media interview on the sidelines of the regulations,
Fouad said most member states have not implemented the regulations in
their countries.
“Just last year, the ministerial council agreed to review the
regulations, because of some member states who are saying that the
regulations do not conform to the reality in their state. Unfortunately most of the member states were not able to implement
this regulation in their countries so we couldn’t even identify the
areas to review this regulation” he stated.
He stressed that “the regulation is put in place to checkmate that
there is free movement of integration which is a major objective of
ECOWAS.
He said “The regulations are there, the implementation is slow, but we
are getting there”
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