The Chairman of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Lagos State Chapter, and Chairman AFAN Southwest, Otunba (Dr.) Babafemi Oke, has highlighted the importance of banning open grazing to achieve food security in Nigeria. Speaking at the 2nd National Conference on Agricultural Journalism (NCAJ 2024) at the Caleb University, Imota, Lagos State, Oke emphasised that open grazing leads to untimely death of farmers, property destruction, and significant financial losses.
The Anti-Open Grazing Law, he explained, fosters community development by encouraging cooperative societies among herders, improves access to resources, markets, and support services. “The law can foster community development by encouraging the establishment of cooperative societies among herders, which can improve access to resources, markets, and support services”. Oke urged stakeholders to support President Bola Tinubu’s food security directives, warning of looming dangers, if open grazing persists.
The AFAN chairman, who was represented by his deputy, Mr. Shakin Agbayewa, reeled out the critical role of food security in Nigeria’s growing population and urbanisation, ensuring sustainable food growth for daily nutrient requirements and healthy lives, saying the Anti-Open Grazing Law would create stable agricultural environment, benefiting herders and farmers while promoting peace and economic development and that, by embracing the law, Nigeria can mitigate the risks associated with open grazing and attain a more sustainable food future.
