Governors in the South-East have said that no part of the zone will be released for the proposed RUGA settlements for herdsmen.
The Federal Government proposal, towards solving the crises that bedevil cattle rearers-farmers/natives, had proposed the scheme, which has, however, stirred up anxiety and resistance in some parts of the country.
But speaking on the matter in a statement, the South-East Governors Forum said they had decided not to release land for RUGA.
Instead, they have proposed a scheme in which they could exchange grades for meat from herders.
According to a report in ‘The Nation’, Chairman of the South East Governors Forum and Governor of Ebonyi State, Chief David Umahi, said though there was no plan for any Ruga settlement in any part of South East and South South, the zones can make a very good business with sale of grasses to the herdsmen in exchange for meat.
Umahi, who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Emmanuel Uzor, said there would be no part of the South East that will be given out for establishment of Ruga.
He noted the zone is purely agrarian with limited landmass for farming and therefore cannot accommodate Ruga.
Umahi, according to the statement, said the zone actually proposed a deal with MACBAN to take their cattle to the Northern parts where grazing reserve was established long time ago and rely completely on the grasses grown in the South for feeding of their cattle.
Umahi, who was chairman Technical Committee on Farmers and Herdsmen clash carved from the federal Economic Council under the chairmanship of the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, made a recommendation for revamping of the already existing grazing reserve in various parts of the North to enable farmers have unhindered access to their farmlands while herdsmen rely solely on proceeds from the farmers.
Explaining how the deal will work, the governor said: “The way it works is that the herdsmen will bring down their cows to the South East and sell us as meat while they will load the grasses which are grown here in the same trailer with which they transported their cows to feed their cattle in those grazing reserve which should be made comfortable for them.“
