Ranching: Bill scale 2nd reading, Hon. Baba Hassan calls for awareness Campaign

Ranching: Bill scale 2nd reading, Hon. Baba Hassan calls for awareness Campaign

As Executive bill for the establishment of Plateau State Livestock Transformation Programme (SLTP), scales second reading, Hon. Ibrahim Baba Hassan, has called for intensive awareness campaing.

Leading the debate Majority leader Naa'anlong Daniel, said if passed in to law the  bill will greatly aide in advancing the course of peace and mitigating herder and farmer clashes,  besides creating jobs in the State.

Hon. Hassan while contributing to the debate, said for the programme to succeed intensive awareness campaing to enlightened both herders, famers and citizens.

"Mr. Speaker and honourable colleagues, my thoughts on the ranching programme, there should be intense awarness campaign. 

"Massive enlightenment and sensitisation is  required to enable wilful buy-in into the Programme. This is key and critical.

"Traditional leadership (Ardos) Youth, Religious leaders and critical stakeholders must be sensitised before implementation," he said.

Hon. Hassan said the law should address the fears of the herders especially on proposed ranching sites, asking is it in every LGA or just in Wase and Kanam.

"A ranching site should be opened in each local government of the state for effective management of the scheme. What is the likely implications if for instance there is no provision for a ranching site in Bassa LGA, what is the fate of the herders in Bassa," he asked.

He said Compensation for trespass and killing of cows, has to be proportional to destroyed crops and NOT arbitrary imposition of outrageous sums for trespass, so as to avoid breeding hatred and quest for retaliation.

"Convincing time frame should be allocated for migration into the ranching scheme. Rushing into implementation won't yield any positive impact.

"On Section 23 of the Bill, MACBAN should be made a member of the SLTP Board," he said.

Also contributing, Hon. Philip Dasun, said proper inclusion of all livestock producers should be made, saying the areas where such programme will take place should be specifically mentioned.

He said it is not likely that the programme will take place in all of the 17 Local Government Areas of the State. 

The plenary presided over by deputy speaker, Sale Shehu Yipmong, committed the bill to the House committees on Agriculture, Lands and Survey, as well as Local Government and chieftaincy affairs, and are to submit their report on the 22 December, 2021.