Nigerian Cattle Rearers Association Urge Agric Minister To Evenly Split Development Funds

News in brief: – An association of cattle rearers in Nigeria has called on the newly appointed minister of agriculture to prioritise addressing the country’s food security crisis, emphasising his crucial role in ensuring access to nutritious food for Nigeria’s population. – While expressing confidence in his leadership, they urged him to demonstrate effective capacity, manage resources fairly, and proposed a 50-50 allocation strategy for agricultural development funds to support both livestock rearers and crop farmers. The Kulen Allah Cattle Rearers’ Association of Nigeria (KACRAN) has urged the newly appointed Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, to prioritise tackling the nation’s food security crisis. In a statement obtained by the press, KACRAN President Hon. Khalil Mohammed Bello emphasised the vital role Kyari plays in ensuring access to nutritious food for Nigeria’s over 200 million citizens. The association expressed confidence in Kyari’s leadership, acknowledging his legislative experience and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s significant trust in him. They lauded the substantial budget allocated to the Ministry, underscoring its critical role in achieving the government’s agenda. However, KACRAN’s leadership stressed the need for Kyari to demonstrate his capacity to address the food security challenge effectively. They urged him to manage resources with fairness, advocating for a balanced approach that supports both livestock rearers and farmers. Recognising the interdependency of arable farming and livestock rearing, particularly in northern Nigeria, KACRAN proposed a 50-50 allocation strategy for agricultural development funds. This, they believe, would create a more efficient and productive agricultural system, enabling Nigeria to meet its food needs adequately. Furthermore, the association cautioned against repeating past mistakes that favored arable farming over the livestock and fisheries sectors. They advocated for a holistic approach that recognizes the contributions of all agricultural sub-sectors to national food security. Expressing optimism in Kyari’s abilities, KACRAN concluded by affirming their faith in his leadership to guide the agricultural sector to new heights, with God’s