Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has stressed that states need to adopt a modern system of animal husbandry as they seek to end open grazing in the country.

Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s breakfast programme, Sunrise Daily, Akeredolu, who doubles as the Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum, cleared the air on the Forum’s reason to ban open grazing.

The topic has been of major concern across the country owing to the unrest and destruction caused by herders and farmers clashes.

However, Akeredolu, who presided over the Asaba meeting of the governors on Wednesday, said: “It is not an entirely new issue; most of the governors have placed a ban on open grazing in their states before the meeting. Most of the states have passed laws on open grazing. Virtually all of us have passed that law.

“We felt that this open grazing must stop. It is causing a lot of problems particularly between the herders and the farmers. Whether we like it or not, times have changed and this must change. We must adopt a modern system of animal husbandry.

“In this day and age, they cannot continue taking cows by foot from Kano to Port Harcourt,” he said.

“At the meeting, we referred to what Governor (Abdullahi) Ganduje said. It was clear that he is also against open grazing. He says it does not augur well and the herders also do not benefit from it. There is no development, they are exposed to dangers.”

The governor however called on the Federal Government to support state governments interested in setting up ranches.

Akeredolu noted that the move would be beneficial to herders who were exposed to dangers as they roamed with their cattle.