By Favour Goodness
THE Anambra State House of Assembly on Thursday began a public hearing on a bill to prohibit open grazing in the state.
The hearing which took place at the Conference Hall of the Anambra State Government House, Awka, received input from stakeholders in agriculture, including the representatives of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria.
Participants rejected the assembly’s draft bill which recommended a maximum of 50 hectares of land for any individual that would want land for ranching.
They said the state had a shortage of land due to erosion, stating that the maximum the state could allot to an individual for ranching should be 20 hectares.
The Speaker of the Anambra State House of Assembly, Uche Okafor, who presided over the session, said, “As we are all aware, open grazing of cattle with its associated problems has generated a lot of interest and concern in the country with the Southern Governors resolving that a bill prohibiting open grazing be passed by all of its member states.
“The necessary legislative action on the bill could not be initiated earlier than now because the State House of Assembly was on its annual recess and only resumed sitting on the 21st of this month.”
