The Kulen Allah Cattle Rearers Association of Nigeria (KACRAN) has called for renewed cooperation between farmers and herders across the country, warning that continued disputes over farmlands, grazing reserves and cattle routes could further undermine food security and economic recovery as the 2026/2027 farming season gets underway.
In a statement on Saturday signed by its National President, Khalil Bello, the association urged pastoralists to avoid destroying cultivated farmlands during grazing and migration while appealing to farmers not to encroach on designated grazing reserves or block recognised cattle routes.
The association said the appeal had become necessary at a time when Nigeria is battling one of its most difficult economic periods in decades, marked by high inflation, rising food prices, insecurity and increasing production costs. It noted that vast public resources are being expended annually to confront security challenges across different parts of the country, resources that could otherwise be invested in development, infrastructure and agricultural expansion.
KACRAN expressed concern that persistent insecurity has continued to affect crop farming, livestock production and fisheries, forcing millions of people from their homes and rendering large areas of agricultural land inaccessible.
According to the group, the situation has been worsened by rising fuel prices, increasing costs of farm inputs and the broader economic pressures facing both farmers and livestock owners.
The association stressed that herders and farmers remain critical partners in Nigeria’s agricultural value chain and that neither group can thrive without the other. It warned that the destruction of crops by livestock threatens food production and community relations, while the obstruction of grazing routes and encroachment on grazing reserves often create tensions capable of triggering violent confrontations.
The appeal came against the backdrop of decades-long farmer-herder conflicts that have evolved into one of Nigeria’s most persistent security and humanitarian challenges. Competition for land and water resources has intensified over the years due to rapid population growth, agricultural expansion, urbanization, climate change and desertification in northern Nigeria. As traditional grazing areas continue to shrink and farming activities expand into former livestock corridors, disputes have become increasingly frequent, particularly in the North Central region, parts of the Northwest and some southern states.
Security and development experts have repeatedly linked farmer-herder clashes to thousands of deaths, widespread displacement and significant economic losses. The violence has disrupted agricultural activities in many food-producing areas, reduced harvests, affected livestock production and contributed to rising food inflation across the country.
KACRAN warned that Nigeria cannot afford further disruptions to food production at a time when concerns over food insecurity are growing. The association noted that international projections suggest millions of Nigerians could face food shortages in the coming years if agricultural productivity is not adequately protected. It therefore called on all stakeholders to avoid actions capable of reducing harvests, destroying livelihoods or escalating communal tensions.
The group also renewed calls on federal and state governments to provide farmers with affordable access to tractors, harvesters, fertilizers, insecticides and other critical inputs needed to increase production. It further urged authorities to reclaim, demarcate and revive grazing reserves and cattle routes across the country while providing functional water points and animal feed support to pastoral communities.
KACRAN argued that many of Nigeria’s historic grazing reserves and stock routes, established decades ago to facilitate livestock movement and reduce conflict, have either been abandoned, encroached upon or lost to urban development and expanding cultivation. It maintained that restoring these facilities would help reduce friction between farmers and herders while boosting livestock productivity and rural stability.
The association commended Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni for measures aimed at supporting both crop and livestock farmers in his state, particularly the reduction of tractor hiring costs from ₦100,000 to ₦50,000 per day and efforts to reclaim grazing reserves, provide water infrastructure and establish new reserves in livestock-producing areas.
It also praised the interventions of the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project, especially the conversion of pastoralists’ boreholes to solar-powered systems and the construction of additional water facilities in Yobe State. The association appealed to the World Bank and the state government to increase funding for the programme to enable it expand its support for pastoral and farming communities.
KACRAN maintained that lasting peace between farmers and herders remains essential to Nigeria’s agricultural future, arguing that greater cooperation, respect for existing laws and increased government support for both sectors are critical to ensuring food security, reducing rural conflicts and strengthening the country’s economic recovery. As the planting season gathers momentum across the country, the association said the responsibility for protecting farms, grazing reserves and rural livelihoods must be shared by all stakeholders if Nigeria is to meet its food production goals and avert deeper agricultural and economic challenges.
Michael Olugbode
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