Kano state Agro-Pastoral Development Project, KSADP, a project funded by the Islamic Development Bank and the Lives and Livelihood Fund has organized a 5-day training on Conflict Management and Resolution, for the 27-man multi stakeholder Kano State Stock Routes Demarcation Committee.
The workshop was organized in conjunction with SMAKIYA Agricultural Consult Limited, to build the capacity of members of the committee, to understand and manage conflicts involving herdsmen and farmers, which often result in unpleasant social, economic and food security consequences.
Holding at The Afficent, in Kano city, the workshop entails presentations by experts, scholars, lawyers and members of the civil society on topics such as Understanding the Dynamics of Conflict, the Role of Traditional Rulers in Conflict Management, Overview of Herders-Farmers Conflict in Northern Nigeria ss well as Arbitration and its principles in the Nigerian Legal System.
Other themes to be explored during the workshop are Law of Conflict under the Nigerian Legal system, Influence of Cattle routes and grazing reserves towards sustainable peace in Nigeria, Alternative Dispute resolution in the Nigerian Legal system and Exploring Community development in Rebuilding Pastoralists livelihoods during and after conflict in Nigeria.
In his remarks, the Deputy Governor of Kano state, who doubles as the Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, tasked policy makers and other stakeholders in the country to evolve home-grown mechanisms that will deal with the factors responsible for incessant farmers-herdsmen conflict in parts of the country.
He stressed that “the timely intervention in such conflicts by traditional leaders is strategic in preventing the breakdown of law and order, thus, saving lives and property from being destroyed”.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Malam Balarabe Hassan Karaye, Dr. Gawuna said: “This issue of farmers-herdsmen conflict is a very serious national security matter which must not be treated with levity. Managing the conflict is necessary for peace and stability, without which developmental activities cannot be executed by the government”.
“There is competing demand for diminishing land resources between farmers and herdsmen and this has often resulted in disagreements, with unfortunate social, food security and economic implications”.
He said to efficiently manage farmer-herdsmen conflict in Kano, the state government initiated the Kano State Agro-Pastoral Development Project, designed as a multi dimensional poverty alleviation, food security and conflict mitigation strategy, adding that establishing Dansoshiya grazing reserve, under the project, would serve as a model for settling herdsmen in one location, thus, ensuring promoting peace.
Dr. Gawuna expressed appreciation to the Islamic Development Bank, the Lives and Livelihood Funds and the Islamic Solidarity Fund for Development, for their support towards achieving KSADP’s mission and vision.
In his remarks, the Managing Director, KNARDA, Dr. Junaidu Yakubu Muhammad recalled that the state government had set up Stock Route Committees, comprising eminent citizens and stakeholders, at the state and local government levels, to prevent crisis involving herdermen and farmers.
“Through the Kano state Agro-Pastoral Development Project, the state government has demonstrated genuine political will to modernize agriculture and pastoralism. This workshop is, therefore, a step in the course”.
The State Project Coordinator, Kano state Agro-Pastoral Development Project, Malam Ibrahim Garba Muhammad, stated that the conflict mitigation intervention was vital towards achieving the overall development objective of the project, stressing that “no one can go to farm or look after cattle or sell milk if there is no peace”.
Ameen K. Yassar
Project Communication Specialist,
Kano State Agro Pastoral Development Project.
