ActionAid Nigeria has urged the Federal Government to swiftly address the ongoing conflict between farmers and herders, as reported by PUNCH on Friday July 18 2025.
According to Country Director Andrew Mamedu, the clashes are driving up food prices, causing scarcity, and hindering national development. He emphasized that with changing conditions, ranching is now a more viable solution than long-distance cattle migration.
At a meeting in Lagos about the 2026 agriculture budget, Mamedu said the real problem is not just the fighting—it’s the lack of land, water, and animal feed.
He explained that during dry seasons, herders move south with their cattle, and this causes clashes when they enter farmlands. He believes the government must stop reacting only when violence happens and instead fix the root causes.
He said ranching is the way forward. Keeping cattle in ranches would stop them from roaming and reduce conflict.
He added that cattle raised in ranches grow better and make more money. He urged the government to build ranches in every senatorial district to help solve the problem.
Mamedu also said the agriculture budget is too small. Nigeria currently spends only 1.2% of its national budget on farming, which is far below the 10% recommended by experts.
He warned that poor funding leads to crop losses, weak support for farmers, and rising food insecurity.
He said women and youth farmers are being left out, even though they do most of the farming in rural areas. He stressed that the government must support them with tools, credit, and training. Without this help, food production will continue to suffer.
Mamedu said Nigeria must stop treating agriculture like a poverty program and start funding it like a national emergency.
He believes that with better planning and smart farming methods, the country can grow more food, reduce conflict, and help farmers succeed.
“Now we know that the cattle don’t need to travel from the North down to the South just to feed. So, we can do ranching. Research has shown that cattle that are ranched produce better and make more money. The question is: Who takes responsibility for setting up ranches? That’s where government comes in,” he said.
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