In order to check herdsmen farmers persistent clashes, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Audu Ogbeh, has said government is ready to establish cattle colonies.

According to Ogbeh, the initiative is expected to provide sustainable solution to the herdsmen/farmers killings across the country.

Ogbeh said this during a 2-day retreat organised by Synergos for special advisers and directors in the ministry in Abuja.

He assured that needed facilities and supports such as water and grasses would be provided for the herdsmen and their cattle.

The Minister explained that the cattle colony project would commence immediately following the offer of five hectares of land from 16 state Governors in the country.

He said President Muhammadu Buhari has promised to help the ministry with needed fund for the project, adding that no other sector is capable of creating jobs for the unemployed.

While he debunked claims that 4 million jobs were lost last one year, Ogbeh argued that over 6 million jobs were created in the agric sector only, adding that Hibiscus also known as Zobo earned the nation’s farmers about $35 million last year as demand continues to increase.

According to the Minister 2018 Frontiers for the sector will focus on new plantations for cashew nuts, also relaunch of cocoa that will move the country up from number seven to number one in the next five years, improve fertilizer blending, which micro nutrients will be included.

Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Bukar Hassan, in his remarks revealed that Nigeria will soon export organic fertilizer to Europe in February 2018.

Hassan made this known while he called on ministers’ aide and civil servants to work together, because the ministry has enormous work to deliver Buhari’s change agenda before 2019 elections.

In his remarks, the Synergos Country Representative, Adewale Ajadi, called on directors and political advisers in the ministry to synergise and work assiduously and not to allow politics distract what has commenced.

Ajadi urged the federal, state and local governments to work together and have proper coordination of activities and policies in the sector.