The Benue State government has said it is planning to conduct a livestock census as part of efforts to end farmers/herders clashes and other forms of criminality in the State.
The Principal Special Assistant (PSA), to the Governor on Livestock Development and Trans-boundary Animal Disease Control, Dr. Aondoakaa Asambe, disclosed this on Monday (today, December 9) after an assessment of abattoirs and livestock markets in Makurdi.
Asambe said it has become necessary for the government to conduct livestock census to have an idea of the number of livestock in the state and their owners.
He said Gov Hyacinth Alia is desirous of turning around the fortunes of the livestock industry in the State.
According to him, all livestock establishments in the state would be resuscitated in the medium and long term while production would be stepped up with improved livestock breeds.
“In the short term, our plan is to conduct the census, register livestock farmers, hatcheries, feed mills with the sole target of first meeting up with the local consumption demands,” he said, pointing out that knowing the accurate data of livestock in the state would not only end farmers/herders clashes, cattle rustling, and other related crimes but would also ensure that government’s interventions would meet the target people in the industry.
“Conducting livestock census or animal census comes with a whole lot of benefits. The major one being that it helps to control the incessant clashes between farmers and herders that we have been having in the state.
“It will also control animals rustling. By the time the animal census is conducted, we will be able to trace all animals to their owners because they will all have tags.
“All animals coming to abattoirs must also have tags so in this case, crime will be reduced within the industry to the barest minimum,” Asambe stressed.
She decried the fact that all abattoirs visited within Makurdi, the State Capital, do not meet the minimum standards for slaughter houses, noting that all of them do not have access to potable water, good roads and lack basic hygiene standards.
He said that the State Government was determined to bring serious transformation into the industry and urged stakeholders to support the government to succeed.
Speaking to newsmen, Chairman, Meat Shops Owners Association, Makurdi branch, Mr Austin Ugwu, appealed to the government to provide water and an access road for them.
Ugwu who spoke at Wurukum abattoir said they also need a good working environment to carry out their businesses.
