The Delta State Government has announced the recruitment of 120 State Livestock Management Officers to address herder/farmer clashes and ensure seamless farming activities across the state.
The Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr Val Arenyeka, made this known on Thursday in Asaba while urging journalists to engage in farming to bridge the hunger gap and enhance food security in the country.
Arenyeka explained that issues of criminality and the herder/farmer crisis fall within the remit of the Federal Government, adding, “As a state, we initially recruited 50 SLMOs and are now engaging an additional 70 officers to monitor farming activities across the 25 Local Government Areas.”
He continued, “I believe those involved in the herder/farmer crisis are criminal elements pretending to be herders, and it is up to the Federal Government to tackle these challenges.”
The Commissioner emphasised that addressing the current food shortage and ensuring food security requires everyone, including journalists, to participate in farming.
He noted that agriculture has evolved from manual to technology-driven methods, stressing that it is the responsibility of Nigerians to feed themselves rather than rely on other countries.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Asaba Correspondents Chapel, Comrade Ifeanyi Olannye, encouraged the Commissioner to explore and deploy all available resources towards achieving food security and job creation, in line with Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s M.O.R.E. Agenda.
He added that the state’s empowerment programme, through the Ministry of Agriculture, would extend to those involved in farming.
