There have been many rumour and speculation on wether there is National Grazing Reserve Bill before the National Assembly or not. The two legislative chambers have seperately denied the existence of such a bill.
But Ogbeh, who stated this in his presentation before the House of Representatives at the ongoing sectoral debate on the economy, explained that the idea behind the grazing reserves was to discourage cattle roaming and indiscriminate grazing. He told the lawmakers that each state was expected to provide them 5000 hectares of land, which would be re-grassed by the government and provided with schools and other facilities for the comfort of the herdsmen and the cattle.
While insisting on the importation of grass from Brazil, Ogbeh said nine states had written to the ministry seeking the Federal Government’s support to develop areas it had earmarked for reserves.
Responding to why government was making provision for land for herdsmen engaged in private business, the Minister explained that the Federal Government has a responsibility to the herdsmen like any other Nigerian.
On how government was going to fund the provision of grass and other facilities, Ogbeh disclosed that the World Bank and other donors would assist the government.
The Minister lamented that colleges of agriculture in the country were not been well funded, disclosing that the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) has even excluded them from its list of beneficiaries.
He said the use of commodity exchange and Genetically Modified Organisms, GMO in the agric sector will help diversify the country’s economy away from oil.
But Ogbeh, who stated this in his presentation before the House of Representatives at the ongoing sectoral debate on the economy, explained that the idea behind the grazing reserves was to discourage cattle roaming and indiscriminate grazing. He told the lawmakers that each state was expected to provide them 5000 hectares of land, which would be re-grassed by the government and provided with schools and other facilities for the comfort of the herdsmen and the cattle.
While insisting on the importation of grass from Brazil, Ogbeh said nine states had written to the ministry seeking the Federal Government’s support to develop areas it had earmarked for reserves.
Responding to why government was making provision for land for herdsmen engaged in private business, the Minister explained that the Federal Government has a responsibility to the herdsmen like any other Nigerian.
On how government was going to fund the provision of grass and other facilities, Ogbeh disclosed that the World Bank and other donors would assist the government.
The Minister lamented that colleges of agriculture in the country were not been well funded, disclosing that the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) has even excluded them from its list of beneficiaries.
He said the use of commodity exchange and Genetically Modified Organisms, GMO in the agric sector will help diversify the country’s economy away from oil.
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