By MOHAMMED TIJJANI

The National Agricultural Mechanisation Cooperative of Nigeria (NAMCON), says it plans to establish cattle ranches in the 774 local governments across Nigeria.

According to the cooperative, the move is part of sustained plausible efforts to modernise livestock production in the country and bolster value-addition.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the National President of NAMCON, Dr Aliyu Waziri, disclosed this when he addressed newsmen on Saturday in Kaduna.

Waziri said that the ranches would be provided with adequate animal feeds, mega dams and an array of features of world-class equipment.

He added that they would also be provided with clinics, western and Islamic schools and other necessary infrastructure.

Waziri said, “These ranches will be fully equipped for both rainy and dry season farming activities for the sustained production of food.

“This is very crucial to boosting food security in the country, jobs creation, poverty eradication and jerking off Nigeria’s foreign reserves.”

According to the National president, the ranches will also have plantations of various economic trees like mango, guava and cashew, among others.

Waziri said that the gesture would also greatly help in combating the recurring herder-farmer clashes in the country. (NAN)