Pastoral Policy In The Offing To Promote Peaceful Coexistence
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The Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG), in collaboration with the Ghana National Association of Cattle Farmers, on Wednesday held discussions on the draft Ghana Pastoral Policy, which will inform the development of the Cattle Ranching Law.
The draft Pastoral Policy, supported by BUSAC Fund, would promote a peaceful co-existence between Crop and Cattle farmers.
Madam Victoria Adongo, the Executive Director of PFAG, at a stakeholder workshop on the draft Pastoral Policy, said it was expected to guide the activities of both sets of farmers.
The workshop is to solicit the views and feedback of participants, with the final report, after validation, to be submitted to the Minister of Agriculture to form the basis of the Cattle Ranching Law.
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The Cattle Ranching Law will prescribe the mechanisms for breeding animals and other procedures to ensure safety and protection of lives and property of both parties during the breeding season.
She said the contributions of both crop farmers and herdsmen had been captured in the Policy to resolve the unending conflict between them.
Dr Kwame Oppong Anane, a Consultant and the Chairman of the Cattle Ranching Committee, said the Ghana Pastoral Development Policy and Strategy aimed at building a more efficient pastoral industry that provided mechanisms acceptable to all stakeholders.
It is also to contribute to the improvement in crop production and the livelihoods of pastoral value chain actors and the economy, while protecting the environment and ensuring peaceful mutual relationship between herders and crop farmers.
Key among the interventions to be provided by the Policy are Public awareness of Pastoralism, Entry and Departure of Pastoral Heads, Corridor for Pastoral Heads, Grazing Reserves, Pastoral Capacity Building, and Pastoral Support Fund.
The Pastoral Policy also outlines implementation strategies and clearly defines roles and responsibilities of the various agencies as well as the institutional framework for successful implementation of the Policy.
Imam Hanafi Sonde, the President of the Ghana National Association of Cattle Farmers, commended PFAG and the government for the collaboration in developing the policy.
He expressed the hope that the Policy would serve as a key input in mitigating the perennial “war” mongering between crop farmers and herdsmen, resulting in loss of lives and property.
