Delta government recruits 120 livestock officers to curb herder/farmer clashes

The Delta State Government has announced the recruitment of 120 State Livestock Management Officers to address herder and farmer clashes and ensure seamless farming activities across the state.

The Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Val Arenyeka announced this on Thursday, September 19, in Asaba, urging everyone to get involved in farming to help close the hunger gap and improve food security in the country.

Arenyeka explained that issues of criminality and the herder and farmer crisis fall within the remit of the Federal Government, adding, “As a state, we initially recruited 50 State Livestock Monitoring Officers (SLMOs) and are now engaging an additional 70 officers to monitor farming activities across the 25 Local Government Areas.

“He continued, I believe those involved in the herder or farmer crisis are criminal elements pretending to be herders, and it is up to the Federal Government to tackle these challenges.”

The Commissioner highlighted that tackling the current food shortage and achieving food security necessitates involvement from everyone in farming activities.

He noted that agriculture has evolved from manual to technology-driven methods, stressing that it is the responsibility of Nigerians to feed themselves rather than rely on other countries.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Asaba Correspondents Chapel, encouraged the Commissioner to explore and deploy all available resources towards achieving food security and job creation, in line with the governor of Delta States’ Meaningful employment, Opportunities for investment, Robust infrastructure, Effective health care (M.O.R.E) Agenda.

He added that the state’s empowerment programme, through the Ministry of Agriculture, would extend to those involved in farming.