Cattle Rearers Call for Peace as Farming Season Begins

News in Brief:

—KACRAN has called on farmers and herders to respect farmlands, grazing reserves and cattle routes to prevent conflicts during the 2026/2027 farming season.

—The association warned that farmer-herder clashes continue to threaten food security, agricultural productivity and economic stability across Nigeria.

The Kulen Allah Cattle Rearers Association of Nigeria (KACRAN) has called for renewed cooperation between farmers and herders across the country, warning that continued disputes over farmlands, grazing reserves and cattle routes could further undermine food security and economic recovery as the 2026/2027 farming season gets underway.

In a statement signed by its National President, Khalil Bello, the association urged pastoralists to avoid destroying cultivated farmlands during grazing and migration while appealing to farmers not to encroach on designated grazing reserves or obstruct recognised cattle routes.

Rising Economic Pressures Threaten Productivity

KACRAN said the appeal had become necessary at a time when Nigeria is grappling with severe economic challenges, including inflation, rising food prices, insecurity and increasing production costs.

According to the association, substantial public resources are being channelled into addressing security challenges across the country, funds that could otherwise support infrastructure development, agricultural expansion and rural economic growth.

The group expressed concern that insecurity continues to affect crop farming, livestock production and fisheries, forcing many people from their communities and restricting access to productive agricultural land.

Farmer-Herder Cooperation Essential for Food Security

The association stressed that farmers and pastoralists remain critical partners within Nigeria’s agricultural value chain and that both groups depend on one another for the sector’s overall success.

KACRAN warned that when livestock destroys crops, it threatens food production and community relations. Encroachment on grazing reserves and obstruction of cattle routes often create tensions capable of escalating into violent conflicts.

Land Competition Fuelling Long-Standing Conflicts

The association noted that farmer-herder disputes have evolved into one of Nigeria’s most persistent security and humanitarian challenges, driven by growing competition for land and water resources.

According to KACRAN, rapid population growth, agricultural expansion, urbanisation, climate change and desertification have intensified pressure on available land, particularly in the North Central region, parts of the North-West and some southern states.

The group observed that shrinking grazing areas and expanding cultivation have increased disputes between farming and pastoral communities in recent years.

Group Calls for Government Support and Grazing Infrastructure

KACRAN renewed calls on federal and state governments to provide farmers with affordable access to tractors, harvesters, fertilisers, insecticides and other essential agricultural inputs required to boost productivity.

The association also urged authorities to reclaim, demarcate and revitalise grazing reserves and cattle routes across the country while providing functional water points and feed support for pastoral communities.

According to the group, many historic grazing reserves and stock routes established to facilitate livestock movement and reduce conflicts have either been abandoned, encroached upon or lost to urban development and expanding cultivation.

Yobe State Initiatives Receive Commendation

The association commended Mai Mala Buni for initiatives aimed at supporting both crop and livestock farmers, including reducing the cost of hiring tractors from ₦100,000 to ₦50,000 per day and efforts to reclaim grazing reserves, expand water infrastructure and establish new livestock reserves.

KACRAN also praised the interventions of the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project, particularly the conversion of pastoralists’ boreholes to solar-powered systems and the construction of additional water facilities in Yobe State.

The association appealed to the World Bank and the state government to increase funding for the programme to enable wider support for farming and pastoral communities.

Peace Critical to Agricultural Growth

KACRAN maintained that lasting peace between farmers and herders remains essential to Nigeria’s agricultural future, arguing that greater cooperation, respect for existing regulations and increased government support for both sectors are necessary to strengthen food security, reduce rural conflicts and accelerate economic recovery.

As the planting season gathers momentum nationwide, the association stressed that protecting farms, grazing reserves, and rural livelihoods requires the collective commitment of all stakeholders to safeguard agricultural production and avert deeper food security challenges.