Readers' Comments on Hydroponics

It is another time for the readers of this column to give feedbacks, comments and reacts on the previous articles published in this column. This week there are two major reactions on the article concerning hydroponics  "soilless cropping system" for the production of fodders to substitute and convert the Transhumant  pastoralism into intensive/range livestock (cattle) production. Can this address the perennial conflicts of Fulani - Farmers in Nigeria? Can Fulani - people with the largest stocks of cattle abandon transhumant pastoralism and adopt the range system? Dr. Junaidu A. Maina, a season technocrat, a former Director of the Federal Department of Livestock in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Abuja presented the burdens of the Fulani, perception/misperception of other Nigerians on these people and suggestions on the best way to address the conflicts and improve livestock production. The second message was received from Mr. Samuel Mbugua, Kenya who mentioned how Kenyan Government is addressing cattle herders - farmers conflicts.  Finally, reminder to my esteem readers that they can access my previous article from my blog; www.breakthroughwithmkothman.blogspot.com   Happy reading.

Hydroponics - Soilless Cropping System, a Panacea to Perennial  Nomadic - Fulani and Crops Farmers Conflicts in Nigeria?

Dear M. K. Othman

I note with interest your contributions to the conversation on pastoralism in Nigeria, which unfortunately is skewed against pastoralists today. Pastoralists are in difficult times today. They are subject of innuendos and aspersions, accused of robbery, cattle rustling, rape, kidnapping and even scorched earth policy. To compliment these accusations our national dailies often carry a picture of a non-Nigerian (perhaps South Sudanese) herdsman with an AK47.This has lately created a media frenzy resulting in calls and agitations for legislation to ban cattle movements (aka pastoralism). This idea which can lead to our cattle industry self-destruct is regrettably gaining grounds. Perhaps a better understanding of this least understood production system may help in having an informed national conversation.

Pastoralism is the main production system in Sub-Saharan Africa (SHA) where pastoralists live in arid and semi arid zones. The system has proved over time to be a very successful strategy in coping with uncertainties due to climate change, epizootics, build up of parasites and other related challenges. Ranching, an –intensive enclosed pastoral production system that obtains in the Americas, Australia and African countries like Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe has unfortunately not proved successful in SHA. The failures of World Bank loans on ranching to many SHA countries including Nigeria can attest to that. These amongst other explains why ECOWAS Heads of State endorsed transhumance pastoralism in 1998 (ECOWAS Decision A/DEC.5/10/98)

How has pastoralism faired in Nigeria? How does the system makes meat available to Nigerians? Nigerians have come to take meat availability in their local markets for granted without having to bother on the production challenges and sacrifice of the primary producers. Although beef is on import prohibition and the challenges in the North Eastern zone of Nigeria which, has the largest livestock population, neither shortage nor dramatic increase in price of beef has occurred. Thanks to transhumance pastoralism with its low production costs, today a kilo of meat costs between 1000-1200 Naira in the country.Another significant contribution of pastoralists is to the rural economy in terms of supporting their households and in supplying meat and milk to rural dwellers at even cheaper prices. Add to all these, employment opportunities it creates in the downstream sectors of transportation, abattoirs, suya spots, farm power etc.

How are our pastoralists able to meet our meat demand with this level of efficiency without Government subsidy unlike the crop farmers? In crop farming, human beings only directly utilize only about a quarter of the total biomass. The other three quarters is in the form of crop residue and low quality crop, which is directly useless to humans. However, cattle (ruminants) convert these into high quality meat and milk. In addition to this, our cattle also utilize grasses on fallow lands, non arable poor quality lands, open ranges and fadama in the same manner. Cattle however have to move to these locations to access these opportunities. To further facilitate this movement, Governments over the years developed grazing reserves and demarcated interconnecting stock routes that have been in existence for very longtime.

For access to crop residue on farm, pastoralists usually negotiate with farmers. If, however any conflict arose from this arrangement including from encroachment of farms into stock routes, these are usually amicably resolved, with the pastoralist sometimes even paying fines. The frequency and level of current “self help” to justice by killing cattle, attacking herders or herders attacking farmers is unusual. It has almost destroyed the harmonious socio-economic equilibrium of the mixed farming system.

Interestingly even in UK today some form of transhumance pastoralism exists. Transhumance sheep in UK are transported in trucks between rough grazing on highland areas and lowlands for grazing. Another example is in wealthier countries such as Oman and Saudi Arabia where State provide vehicles at subsidized rates to pastoralists to assist with animal transportation between grazing lands. In USA there are still winter and summer ranges.

Let me further illustrate the economics of pastoralism. UK has 9.7 million cattle, in 2014, UK imported livestock feeds worth £899 million (Naira; 249.5b) to maintain its beef and milk industry. Today a kilo of beef in UK costs between £10-44 (Naira; 2,775-12,210). This livestock feeds import figure exposes the fallacy that UK cattle are raised on grass produced on UK farms. What casual observers fail to notice is the existence of silos that mainly contain imported feeds in many farms. Grass produced on farms is never sufficient but always need to be supplemented with feed concentrates. British cattle survive on Argentinean feeds.

One of the indices for economic development of a country is measured on the amount of meat consumption per person. Therefore, as our economy improves so will the demand for more cheap meat and milk by all including those calling for the heads of pastoralist today.

Another paradox is this. Historically pastoralists even in pre-colonial Africa are known to be generally law abiding. They paid cattle tax and any other legitimate State tax, for right of passage and also to secure State protection. Understandingly, a person with a big mobile capital (cattle) sometimes accompanied by family, will pay any amount for protection against bandits. He is also unlikely to invite unnecessary trouble. However, globally pastoralists are reputed not to be easy targets, not just because they are mobile. They have what Sociologists call “culture of honour”. When threatened or attacked, they will fight to protect their honour, family and assets. And when they fight, they fight hard because they can lose everything and also need to make the point that they are no weaklings or ease preys.

Cattle ownership in Nigeria is changing. Thanks to successful control of major livestock killer diseases. Today investment in livestock brings significant high returns. In Nigeria over time pastoralists have settled as agro-pastoralists living peacefully with their neighbours in many if not all the States of the Federation. In fact, some of the cattle they herd belong to their indigenous neighbours.  This is the future and Government should encourage this trend by;

Ø  Providing incentives for settling as agro-pastoralist and establishment of cattle farms. (e.g.Bank of Agriculture to create special loan schemes)

Ø  Urgently addressing some issues of climate changes depleting range land(Great Green Wall project, rehabilitation of rangeland etc).

Ø  Tackling cattle rustling,(majority of cattle theft is practised by urbanised individuals linked to the market system), rural banditry and prosecuting persons responsible for current killings.

Ø  Introducing cattle identifications for registration, traceability and movements monitoring.

Ø  Funding research on breeds improvement, feeding regimes etc and introducing degree courses in range science (non available in country) to address the dearth of trained personnel in range management.

Ø  Introducing of Silvo pastoralism (cattle production in tree plantations –similar to agro-forestry) in the Southern States.

Ø  Mounting advocacy on the positive contributions of pastoralists and censuring hate speeches.

Finally, your submission on hydroponic is interesting but I have reservations about it. Hydroponic is for application in intensive, small - scale livestock situation with very high outputs, in my opinion, range land remains the best cow/calf production system in sub-Sahara Africa.

Dr. Junaidu A. Maina, junaidumaina@gmail.com  

Dear Dr. Othman

Thanks for your interesting article on Hydroponics, the conflicts between Fulani and farmers are common in Africa. The fulani people are like our Maasai in Kenya. As long as they think there's enough land for them to graze, there will always be conflicts. Kenyan Government is working hard to address these conflicts. Recently, the Kenyan Ministry of Agriculture has mobilised some extension services in

Maasai communities where conflicts and introduced farming to them with a business aim. We have communities like Turkana, Samburu and Pokot which are largely nomads and like to move with animals from one village to another. They always fight due to intrusion of one community to another's pasture land. There's also cattle rustling. To curb these heinous acts, the government is subsidizing these communities and urging them to wake up from their sleep. To start thinking of zero grazing, to farm high value crops and also impart business skills. The media has also been urged to celebrate and air such converted nomads who have now decided to settle and farm in an efficient way that does not entail conflicts. And as land in Kenya decreases, most nomads are now left with no option but to adapt. Nomadic way of livestock production has to change and in fact changing in Kenya, otherwise the nomads will remain chained to their lifestyle with insignificant profits and low productivity. The herders also produce  dry matter such as hay through farming and selling the surplus.

Regards,

Samuel Mbugua, grandeurafrica@gmail.com