Cattle herders in Nigeria are seeking to adopt the deployment of technological applications that could address the incessant clashes they have with farmers and their host communities.
For them, one of the low hanging fruits would be the introduction of tracking systems using GPS technology to support the various community based conflict resolution mechanisms they have planned. They are hoping this would reduce the cases of cattle rustling which has been the underlying cause of most conflicts between cattle herders and farming communities.
Saleh Alhassan, an Engineer who is the National Secretary of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, the Socio-cultural association of Fulani cattle herders in Nigeria announced this on Monday during a press conference to unveil US-based Amina Temitope Labinjo Ajayi, popularly known as Mama Diaspora as their Ambassador at the Association’s National Headquarters in Nasarawa State, North central Nigeria.
While acknowledging that ranching may be an option in the long run, the group is asking that the states should take the lead by creating ranches that would serve as prototypes for the herders who are mostly nomadic.
“We are looking to introduce livestock tracking using GPS technology and support community ased conflict resolution mechanisms,” Alhassan said during the occasion which coincided with the association’s stakeholders’ summit on peace and Security.
Using Internet of Things (IoT), livestock farmers can track locations, finetune feeding and maximize milking. It can also be used to monitor the health and reproductive cycle of the cattle.
Meanwhile, Ajayi, founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian American Agricultural Empowerment Program (NAAEP) has unveiled some innovative projects intended to shift the herders from the traditional pastoralism to modern methods of cattle breeding.
Through her organisation, Sillicon Valley Nigeria Economic Development (SV-NED INC), some herders would be traveling to California, United States to acquire knowledge and expertise on technology based modern animal husbandry, beginning next year.
The beneficiaries, according to Ajayi would be exposed to modern and sophisticated techniques and technologies in Cattle Husbandry, Dairy Abattoir and Cattle Field Grazing.
“As Miyetti Allah’s Brand Ambassador, I am in a hurry to start Work because there’s so much work to do,” Ajayi said, while disclosing also that she has developed a blueprint for the total transformation of the cattle rearing and farming business that will change the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Nigeria.
“I have a Robust Action Plan to establish a SV-NED/Miyetti Allah Train the Trainers Cattle Ranch Academy attached to each Cattle Farm Settlement in various parts of the Country. The First of these Trainers/Teachers for the Miyetti Allah SV-NED INC, Train the Trainers Cattle Ranch Academy will be travelling to California USA early next year,” she said.
However, her office as Miyetti Allah ambassador under the Supervision of the National President will, later this year organize a local training programme in Nigeria to screen and recruit the first set of Trainers/Teachers that will be travelling to Sillicon Valley, California USA for the overseas training.
“Our Company Sillicon Valley Nigeria Economic Development (SV-NED INC) has concluded all arrangements with our Partners in California USA,” Ajayi assures.
She said the lingering clash between Fulani herders and farmers will be a thing of the past if the development programmes she has proposed for the Fulani pastoralists are implemented.
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