‘Send Your Kids To School, Stop Roaming’ – Gov Masari Charges Herdsmen

The Katsina State Governor, Aminu Bello Masari has called for educating the Fulani in modern cattle farming as a means of bringing an end to the conflict between herders and farmers ravaging most parts of the country.

Insisting that there is no basis for comparison between an educated cattle rearer and an uneducated one in terms of output and productivity, the governor enjoined the Fulani to send their wards to schools to learn modern farming techniques and stop wandering around.

He said herders in other climes who have realized the potential of the business and availed themselves to learn and practice modern farming are among the richest today.

Masari disclosed this to the Fulani at an event organized by the Department of Livestock and Grazing Reserves in preparation of the plans for the development of Ranch Centres in Katsina State.

“It is important for us to understand that the whole world is facing climate change. Things are changing,” he said.

“For us to prepare ourselves to adapt to these changes and overcome them and move on, we need to be really informed and educated about what is going on.

“What 20 herds of cattles can do, today technology has made it possible for three or four herds of cattle to produce the same milk, infact meat for the family to be able to enroll their children into school.

“I think what the herders need to do is to enroll into school, to try to send their children to school to learn the modern rearing of cattle. We have seen in other countries, how they sent their children to school to become educated herders.

“Unfortunately, in our system…when they go to school, they feel they have become more important that they cannot be butchers.

“After all, it was through butchering that they were born, bred and educated. How can they now think that they are so important that they cannot be butchers anymore?

“All your traditional cows cannot in the best of times, especially during the rainy season produce one litre. But it is doable through education.

“Some people have done it. Those who have done it are human beings like you and me. They are not different. They took advantage of the opportunity for them to learn.

“So That is why we want to establish schools. It is important to enroll your children in schools for the purpose of the economy and modern cattle rearing,” Governor Masari said.