From.Ahmad Muhammad, Bauchi
The Mai Kaltungo Engineer Saleh Mohammed has explained that the measures and steps taken by the State, local government and the emirate has yielded fruitful result that reduced violent clashes between herders and farmers in the state during harvest period.
Mai Kaltungo said this when he interacted with reporters in his palace on this year’s harvest season.
He said, “we have involved all stakeholders and we received all the needed support from.the State Governor and the Local Government Chairmen which helped us to consolidate the peaceful coexistence between herdsmen and farmers.
“Under the arrangement, Fulani heardsmen used to come back to our area from south and north central during harvest with their cows. If they reach our area, they will not enter farms until when the farm owner finished harvesting his crops. But if the cows eat his farm produce, the cattle rearers will pay. Also, the farmers will not burn the grass in their farm.
“If there is any problem, farmers are not allowed to talk to the herders but the fulani leaders that are in the Prevention and Settlement Committee are the ones that will intervene and talk to farmers so that the matter will be resolved amicably”.
He said the proactive measures, taken by the committee such as community engagement programmes, conflict resolution workshops and regular dialogue sessions between the farming and herding communities helped alot because these initiatives are designed to foster mutual understanding and cooperation, addressing grievances before they escalate into violent clashes.”
The monarch said a stable and peaceful agricultural environment not only benefit the local economy but also contributes to national food security, “By preventing conflicts and ensuring that both farmers and herders can operate without fear of violence.”
