By Fatima Saka
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Mohammad Abubakar has said climate change is becoming competitive and violent as its triggered conflict between farmers and herders threatening food and national security.
The minister made this assertion on Monday in Abuja at the Regional Summit on Human and Climate Security Challenges and Farmer- Herder Conflict Resolution.
Abubakar lamented that climate change was not a precursor to the migration of herders to the southern and north central, it has increased migration from areas with a high frequency of drought and lower availability of natural resources to the southern forest zone with better resources for their livestock…
Abubakar noted that the livestock industry in Nigeria and West Africa has potential for sustainable employment through its value chains.
Abubakar said the dimensions it has taken call for introspection into unraveling the causes of unwarranted attacks by the actors and more innovative ways of addressing it.
He said the summit provides the opportunity for dialogue and discourse on the way forward for achieving peace between crop farmers and livestock herders.
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The minister noted that the surge in the age-long conflict has been attributed to the complex interaction between the changing nature of availability and access to natural resources land and water as a result of the effects of climate change.
Other factors include rising population of humans and livestock, diminishing arable and grazing lands, industrialisation, negative political influence, and undermining of age-long but proven traditional approaches to managing conflicts.
“In the north-eastern region, we are witnessing the negative impact of depletion of water in the “Oasis in the desert” Lake Chad.
” It is common knowledge that crop farmers, fishermen and particularly livestock farmers and other people around the lake depend on it for their economic well-being and sustenance.
“Some of the consequences of Lake Chad drying up is increased unrest occasioned by competition for scarce resources.
“This unfortunate situation has been exacerbated by terrorist activities of Boko Haram, banditry and kidnapping…
“Our desire as a nation is for the restoration of the Lake by recharging it and preventing further shrinkage. This is evident in our appeals to international communities, development partners and other allies of Nigeria and Africa for assistance”.
