Bature , 57 of Okari village in Nassarawa state, says their cattle have no place to graze, “everywhere have been fenced by farm owners and land owners”. Every day, 21 million nomadic pastoralists like Bature are faced with not only the problem of poor access to grazing land for livestock but with the anguish of insecurity, conflicts with farming communities, poor access to water, inadequate access to health and education among others.
The Pastoral Resolve (PARE), a charity organization working to influence, encourage and promote the interest and welfare of all nomadic pastoralists while preserving their traditions and cultural value systems says it is set to work towards tackling the challenges of pastoralists in the country; to halt the incessant conflicts between farmers and the nomadic pastoralists in many states of the country.
Establishment of grazing reserves will help pastoralists to settle and perform their trade of herding livestock. As part of measures to accomplish its objectives, PARE is organizing two Fundraising Events; in Kaduna on Thursday, June 14 and in Abuja on Monday, July 9, 2012. The Fundraising events are for the proposed establishment of six grazing reserves in six states in Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa and Niger States. The Fundraising events are part of the activities by PARE to support the development of these grazing reserves and the settlement of pastoralists; others are a series of stakeholder sensitization campaigns.
In developing the case for government and other stakeholders to invest in the development of the grazing reserves, PARE intends to showcase the Kachia grazing reserve (a developed reserve in Kaduna State) as a case study for this project. The aim of the project is to showcase the socio-economic benefits of a developed grazing reserve (i.e. the Kachia reserve) to pastoralists and their families, whilst also examining the socio-economic situation of Nomads in other parts of the country.
The findings of the project will further be captured in a documentary which will be aired by PARE at its pilot fundraising event on 14th June and 9th July 2012. The aim of the event is to create awareness of the importance of grazing reserves as well as to raise funds to assist in the development of six grazing reserves in the above named States.
To complement this laudable objective, PARE has adopted four strategies which include the mobilization and sensitization of nomadic pastoralists to form Local Pastoral Associations through which they can address some of the problems confronting them.
It is supporting the improvement of livestock production through extension and training, which introduces the pastoralists to new information and knowledge beneficial to their socio-economic activities.
PARE also promotes the provision of education to the nomadic pastoralists through mobilization to recognize the importance of education at one end and advocacy to States and Local Governments to provide teachers and functional school structures at the other end as well as carrying out advocacy and mobilizing policymakers, policy implementers and international development organisations to provide support and assistance to the pastoral communities.
According to Alhaji Umar,'' The vision of PARE is to be devoted to nurture the Pastoralists peoples' aspirations for change, from their life of subsistence to that of a truly fulfilling, peaceful, pleasant one that manifest the beauty and greatness of nature.''
PARE believes that the results of these initiatives will lead to improved livelihood for the pastoralists, eliminate pastoralists farmers' conflicts and increase integration of the nomadic pastoralists into the mainstream of the national economic development of the country.
The Pastoral Resolve (PARE) was incorporated as a registered charity organisation in April 1999. The objectives of PARE are to influence, encourage and assist in promoting the interest and welfare of all nomadic pastoralists and preserve their tradition and cultural value systems.
PARE believes that the results of its initiatives will lead to an improved livelihood for the pastoralists, eliminate pastoralists farmers’ conflicts and increase integration of the nomadic pastoralists into the mainstream of the national economic development.
In the normal cause of the day pastoralists leading their animals to grazing lands and watering points, inevitably trespass on farmlands, damage and destroy crops. This leads to instant retaliation and quarrels which degenerate into large scale violence, loss of lives and property.
The conflict between farmers and nomadic pastoralists is leading to increasing violence and general insecurity.
