The Plateau State Government yesterday said it will respect the views of citizens of the State over the grazing reserve policy which has caused tension within the State, saying the policy is been discussed among stakeholders.
It would be recalled that about a fortnight ago, some stakeholders and socio-cultural groups had kicked against the policy; while women and youths had protested against the policy in the State.
However, Governor Lalong made the disclosure at a consultative meeting over the new grazing reserve and grazing ranch policy, organized by Search for Common Ground and Plateau Peace Building Agency for participants to brainstorm on the new agricultural policy.
The Governor who was represented by his Deputy, Prof. Sonni Tyoden, said, “The grazing reserve and grazing ranch scheme is not yet a government policy in the state, it is an issue that is been discussed by citizens of the state through the ongoing consultative forum.
“This is the 5th consultative meeting in the series coordinated by the 14-man policy formulation committee, we have met with traditional rulers, the youths, the clerics, State House of Assembly and this very one which is involving the general public.
“At the end of the consultations, government is going to accord respect to the popular opinion of its citizens and do the needful”, he assured.
“When the issue of grazing reserve was presented to us by the Federal Government in Abuja, as a governor I looked at it as a policy that has economic potentials for government and individuals in the state and thereby showed intent pending necessary consultations with my people.
“The necessary consultations has already gone far and I want to assure citizens that their views on the new policy shall be the position of government.
“My administration will not force any new policy on the people; government is not going to confiscate anybody’s land for this purpose and government has no intention to sell plateau land to anyone in the country in the name of grazing reserve”, he explained further.
The Governor stressed that, “Government has seen the benefit in the new policy and will encourage citizens to embrace it because it will help government to stop the recurrent farmers and grazers clash in the state, it will create employment opportunity to youths and it will bring about economic independence to those who venture into livestock production.
Earlier in their welcome address, Country Director, Search for Common Ground, Mr. Rajendra Mulmi and Mr. Joseph Lengmang, Director General Plateau Peace building Agency, said they decided to organise the forum to enable citizens have a voice in the ongoing consultations on grazing reserve policy.
Also, in the same vein, the State Commissioner for Agriculture, Mrs Linda Barau, said, “The new agricultural policy of the federal government is not only for livestock development, it also provides for food crops development and it will be of great benefit for citizens to key into the national programme of this nature.
“Every citizen of the country will be given equal opportunity in the commercial agriculture scheme introduced by the federal government as a way of economic diversification”, she explained.
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