The Benue State Government has revealed plan to conduct livestock census. This was disclosed by the Principal Special Assistant to the state governor on Livestock Development and Transboundary Animal Disease Control, Dr Aondoaka Asambe, who said the census would not only help to have statistics of both the livestock and owners but also halt the constant farmers/herders clashes and other forms of criminality across the state.
Asambe who disclosed this on Monday during his visit to some abattoirs in the capital city of Makurdi assured his principal’s desire to turn around the fortunes of livestock industry in the state.
He promised that all livestock establishments in the state would be resuscitated in the middle and long term while production would step up with improved livestock breeds.
According to him, “In the short term, we plan to conduct the census, register livestock farmers, hatcheries, and feed mills with the sole target of first meeting up with the local consumption demands.
“Conducting livestock census or animal census comes with a whole lot of benefits. The major one is that it helps to control the incessant clashes between farmers and herders that we have been having in the state.
“It will also control animals rustling. By the time the animal census is conducted, we will be able to trace all animals to their owners because they will all have tags.
“All animals coming to abattoirs must also have tags so in this case crime will be reduced within the industry to the barest minimum”, Asambe submitted.
While decrying the state of abattoirs within the capital city, Asambe said that they did not meet the minimum standards for the slaughterhouse, due to poor roads and lack of potable water as well as poor hygiene.
Meanwhile, the Chairman, Meat Shops Owners Association Makurdi branch, Mr Austin Ugwu called on the state government to provide an enabling environment to carryout their businesses.
