Nigeria is not the only country where people rear livestock. Those who rear cattle in these countries rear them in ranches. The practice of open grazing in Nigeria is a menace.Information Guide Nigeria

Open grazing in Nigeria has so many negative effects. These bad effects include:

1. Insecurity

Nigeria has been suffering from insecurity for so many years now. Different heads of state have fought it to no avail. The greatest problem of insecurity in Nigeria is that the sources are unknown.

It is very difficult to fight an enemy that you do not see. Some people say Boko Haram causes insecurity. Others say the herdsmen are the cause. Still, some suspect foreigners.Effects and Disadvantages of open grazing

There is no doubt that the herdsmen move about with dangerous weapons. The truth remains that they do not use these weapons to feed the cattle. They are herdsmen and not hunters.

Therefore, their going about with weapons is suspicious. Those who say that the herdsmen are the cause of insecurity in Nigeria might then be right.How to Check Baba Ijebu Result on MTN

2. Enmity

Open grazing in Nigeria has caused enmity among Nigerians. Some southerners hate the northerners who carry cattle about. They see them as enemies who come to destroy their crops. Those who carry cattle about see those who deprive them as their enemies who do not want them to feed their cattle. Thus, there is enmity among them.

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3. State Governors

Some state governors have suffered so much because of open grazing in their states. When there was war in Ndokwa East between herdsmen and the farmers, Delta State Governor went there for the settlement. Other state governors have suffered the same thing.

Thus, open grazing has caused many problems in the states. State governors are not at rest because of open grazers. The communities are always in trouble because of cattle rearers.

4. Agricultural Sector

Open grazing in Nigeria has caused so many problems in the agricultural sector. Agriculture is the major occupation of most Nigerians. Yet, it has suffered so much in the hands of open grazers.

Most farmers leave their farmlands to mature for some years. They do not farm on these pieces of land in those years. The cattle rearers who want green grass for their cattle set such land on fire. They do this for those places to bring new grass for their cattle to eat. Thus, they defeat the aim of the farmers.

Open grazing has destroyed some farms in the past. Cattle rearers who put fire in the bush make the fire consume crops in nearby farms.Best Methods for Checking Glo Airtime Balance 2022 Update

When cattle are grazing, they go through fresh farms. As they go along these farms, they destroy the little plants that are just growing up. They also open the surfaces of the soil where the farmers do not plant crops.

5. Food Shortage

Open grazing is the cause of food shortage in Nigeria. Cattle do not allow crops to produce well. They cause a low yield to farmers.JAMB Result

6. Clashes

There are always violent clashes between herdsmen and farmers. Such clashes have made many farmers abandon their farms. Violent clashes have left many farmers dead. Thus, these violent clashes reduce the number of farmers in Nigeria.

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7. Health Hazard

Open grazing goes with health hazards. Cattle carry tsetse flies with them. Tsetse flies cause sleeping sickness. Wherever you find cattle, there you find tsetse flies. This poses health problems to those who live around the places where herdsmen graze their cattle.

According to Dr Tunde Arosanyin, cattle cause “cancer, cardiac arrest and other terminal diseases.” You can then see what open grazing has been doing to Nigerians. All they know is that they are sick. They do not know that they are sick because of the presence of cattle around them.

8. Nutritional Values

Experts say that cattle that trek long distances lose their nutritional value. They say that the protein that such cattle are supposed to give is lost due to the suffering they undergo trekking.

They also say that cattle that people carry about do not produce as much milk as those that rearers leave in one place. Thus, the beef that Nigerians eat has no value. They spend their money on what does not benefit them.

9. Erosion

Open grazing causes erosion. The grass in the soil protects it from erosion. When cattle feed on the grass, they remove the grass from the soil. The grasses that cattle remove from the soil together with the way they trample the soil with their hooves cause soil erosion.

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10. Environmental Pollution

Open grazing causes environmental pollution. The cattle the herdsmen carry about defecate all over the places they pass. Thus, they pollute the whole place.

After grazing, the herdsmen take their cattle to places where they will drink water. They go to the rivers, ponds and other places where they can find water. When they enter into the water with their dirty hooves, they pollute the water.

The negative effects of open grazing in Nigeria are so much that it cannot be encouraged. It is high time Nigeria finds an alternative to open grazing.

Disadvantages of Open Grazing in Nigeria

As open grazing has negative effects so, it has disadvantages. The disadvantages include:

1. Food Reduction

Open grazing destroys crops thereby reducing food production. Food reduction brings hunger hence many Nigerians are hungry.WAEC Result

2. Crimes

Many crimes that are committed in Nigeria are associated with those who carry cattle about.

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3. Deaths

Open grazing has caused the death of many farmers. Oftentimes, the farmers clash with those who graze their cattle on their farms. The cattle rearers who always go with deadly weapons kill these farmers.

4. Traffic Problems

The cattle the herdsmen carry about pose traffic problems. This writer was a victim of an accident that cattle caused. Their vehicle collided with a cattle that was trying to cross the road.

Cattle cause a traffic jam most of the time. Sometimes, the cattle are so many that the herdsmen find it difficult to control them. Thus, they cause a traffic jam.

5. Food Insecurity

Open grazing is the cause of food insecurity in Nigeria. It causes a lack of food. Nigerians do not have enough food to eat due to the activities of herdsmen.Npower Recruitment

6. Environmental Degradation

Cattle cause environmental degradation in Nigeria. Cattle destroy the natural habitats of the organisms that live in the soil.

7. Farm Lands Pressure

Open grazing in Nigeria creates pressure on farmlands. Cattle rearers do not allow farmlands to fallow.

8. Protein Reduction

Making cattle move from place to place cause them to suffer. This suffering reduces the protein in them.

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9. Income Reduction

Cattle destroy farmers’ crops. This destruction of crops reduces the income of the farmers.

10. Punishment to the Federal Government

The crises that cattle rearers cause have brought so much punishment to the federal government. People blame the federal government for what it does not cause. The federal government spends sleepless nights fighting the insecurity that the herdsmen cause.JAMB Form

Conclusion

The conclusion is that open grazing in Nigeria is an ill wind that has done it no good. Nigeria has nothing to benefit from open grazing.

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