Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association has urged herders to embrace modern ways of cattle rearing, to address security threats characterised by the olden ways system.
Mansur Abdulkarim, Chairman, Communique Draft Committee of the 2023 Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore Fulani Socio-Cultural Association, stated this at the Annual General Meeting of the association in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa state.
According to Abdulkarim, apart from the negative challenges associated with the olden days method, modern cattle rearing had a lot of benefits which include improved economy and safety.
“Part of the benefits of the economic aspects is that modern system of rearing can give an avenue for various initiatives that can enhance economic growth.
“An example is the establishment of the Dairy Milk Entrepreneurship, especially among women and girls, which by extension, ensures food security, economic growth and poverty reduction within communities.
“Though such initiative has its own challenges popular among us, which are limited education opportunities, basic infrastructure and health, among others.”
He said such challenges must be addressed in order to realise the potential of the ventures.
He added that challenges such as sexual and reproductive health risk, gender inequalities and stigmatisation must be well addressed for the Diary Milk Entrepreneurship among Women and girls to fully succeed.
“It is important to note that addressing these requires a long term commitment and comprehensive approach focusing on both prevention and response at both individual and community level,” he said.
He also called for institutional backing with legal framework, capacity building and community empowerment for the pastoralist women and girls engaged in the dairy milk entrepreneurship because they faced several challenges that hindered their participation.
“I hope stakeholders would do the needful by putting heads together towards not only realising the initiative but the development of dairy milk industries across communities,” he said.
Abdulkarim praised Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed for his administration’s focus on nomadic education, demarcation of cattle routes and grazing reserves, to prevent farmers, herders conflict in the state.
He also thanked the National President of the fulani socio-cultural association, Abdullahi Bodejo, for organising the event aimed at creating an avenue for fulanis to interface on issues concerning them.
Soon after the speech, the association commenced its annual general meeting where the national president of the association assured members of his commitment to their welfare and security.
