Oyo Govt Rejects Cattle Colony, Says It’s Strange

The Oyo State Government has described the proposed establishment of cattle colony by the Federal Government as strange.

The Commissioner for Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development, Oyewole Oyewumi, who said this on Sunday, added ranching should be encouraged.

He said, “We encourage ranching over any other methods of cattle production. We have heard talks about grazing reserves and recently about what they called cattle colony. Cattle colony sound strange to us; so we await further explanations as to what a cattle colony is.”

Oyewumi added that the state would not accomodate the proposed cattle colony, saying cattle would not be allowed to graze freely.

“If a cattle colony means an open area where cattle will be allowed to just walk around in a free range, I don’t think the Oyo State Government will be able to accommodate that. That is our position and that is where we stand on the matter,” he added.

Oyewumi said the state government had a bill before the state House of Assembly to check the activities of the herdsmen.

He said, “We are also looking at one or two areas where the state can support and ensure that one activity does not necessarily encroach on the other because that has been the cause of this crisis.”

Naija News reports that the Oluwo of Iwoland suggested ranching and hay cultivation to feed the cattle instead of establishing cattle colonies.