Food Security: NSCDC urges Delta govt. to recruit more agro-rangers

The state Commandant, Suleiman Jimoh, made the call while speaking with journalists on Wednesday in Asaba.

He said the command under his watch had trained the first batch of the DLMO operatives, also known as Agro-rangers.

According to him, they have been equipped with the technique to forestall farmers/herders clashes and kidnappings of farmers in the state.

He said that the command had successfully worked in synergy with the operatives in almost 15 Local Government Areas in the state and made good successes in curbing the challenges.

Jimoh said that several cases arising from farmer/herder disputes have also been resolved amicably by the command.

The commandant said that the command could not provide surveillance in all 25 local government areas effectively due to logistics.

“The government should recruit more operatives to enable us to work effectively to checkmate farmers/herders clashes and ensure food security in the state, he said.

NAN reports that the Delta Government had in April 2023 inaugurated the first batch of DLMO in line with the provision of its law to regulate open grazing in the state.

Dr. Godfrey Enita, former Chairman, Delta Livestock Management Committee (DLMC) and Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, performed the inauguration at the NSCDC State Command Headquarters in Asaba.

Enita said the committee was mandated to implement the state livestock, breeding, rearing, and marketing regulations Law, 2012, in the best interest of the citizens of the state.

“The law is enacted, among others, to stop open grazing of livestock and encourage sustainable humane breeding, production, husbandry, and marketing of livestock, he said.

He said the law would prevent the herders and farmers crisis, which has been a threat to the state’s drive for food security and harmonious living between herders and farmers in the state.