The Gombe State Government said on Monday that it had begun engaging key stakeholders across the state to ensure a peaceful harvest and prevent farmer-herder clashes.
The Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Abdulkadir Muhammed, disclosed this at a news briefing in Gombe.
He said a committee set up by the state government to ensure peaceful harvest activities had begun engaging traditional rulers, leaders of farmers’ and herders’ associations, and other grassroots stakeholders.
According to Muhammed, there have been no reported clashes between farmers and herders so far, which he attributed to the early engagement of relevant stakeholders.
He said it was important for the government to protect farm produce, particularly given the effects of climate change on this year’s cropping season. Many farmers, he said, had experienced irregular rainfall that affected their crops.
Muhammed emphasised the need for farmers and herders to respect one another and protect their livelihoods, saying peaceful coexistence was vital to the government’s food security efforts.
He said the committee had established a task force to monitor activities across the state and work with local government stakeholders to receive complaints and report issues for appropriate action.
The committee and task force were also working with security agencies, hunters, vigilante groups and other stakeholders to address issues as they arose and prevent conflicts from escalating, he said.
Muhammed acknowledged that challenges had been recorded in some communities but said efforts were being made to resolve them through established channels.
He urged residents not to take the law into their own hands. Anyone with a grievance, he said, should report it through the proper channels rather than resort to violence.
“If you have a complaint, you should report it to your councillor or visit any of the designated reporting centres established by the committee.
“You can also report the matter to the appropriate local government committee, which will ensure that it receives the necessary attention.
“Our message is that peaceful coexistence requires understanding, cooperation and mutual respect. Farmers and herders must recognise that they need one another,” he said.
The commissioner commended Gov. Inuwa Yahaya for supporting several interventions, including the rehabilitation of livestock routes, construction of cattle tracks, provision of watering points and improvement of grazing areas.
