The Director Agric of the LGA, Alhaji Dahiru Musa disclosed this during a reconciliation dialogue for farmers and herders, on Wednesday in Batsari.
The dialogue was organised by an NGO, Mercy Corps, in collaboration with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), Centre for Democratic Development (CDD), and funded by the European Union.
According to him, the plans was part of their efforts to prevent any conflict between the herders and farmers in the area, aimed to have a peaceful farming period.
He disclosed that the decision was brought up to ensure that at the end of the 2024 farming season, farmers harvest more goods to improve food security in the area.
Musa added that the local council is also making arrangements to construct more boreholes, and also repair the existing ones, for the herders and other users.
Alhaji Murtala Abu, the Director Personnel Management of the local government disclosed that as part of effort to prevent farmers/herders conflict, they have established a conflict resolution committee.
He disclosed that traditional, religious and community leaders among other stakeholders were given the responsibilities of ensuring peace and unity among their people.
All participants at the meeting, which comprised farmers, herders, women, traders, people with special needs called for a monthly dialogue to ensure the sustainability of peace in their communities.
At a similarly meeting in Jibia LGA, Malam Sani Sani advised community leaders on social justice among the people in order to promote peace building.
The participants explained the impacts of engaging all the necessary stakeholders, ensuring equality and equity in providing peace in their communities.
Some of them described illiteracy among the youths as another factor that contributed to the breakdown of law and order in most of the communities, while insisting on reconciliation as a major means for peace.
At all the events, Magdalene Musa, a representative of the Mercy Corps said the dialogue was aimed at promoting locally-driven peace initiatives through interest-based negotiation.
According to her, the dialogue was organised through the Conflict Mitigation and Community Reconciliation in Northwest Nigeria (CMCR-NW) project.
She said the project was an 18-months comprehensive pilot programme toward reducing community violence in Batsari, Danmusa, Jibia and Kankara LGAs of the state.
Musa said the project seeks to strengthen peace building processes to support the implementation of political and community responses to violence.
“It’s also to strengthen the governance system to promote social cohesion and address the needs and grievances of the community, as the farming season is coming.
“Expected output and outcome of the dialogue is conflict prevention strategy, including action plans to address the impact of conflict on farming and grazing developed.
“The conflict dialogue specifically focuses on rainy/farming season scenario planning, conflict assessment, and mitigation strategies,” she said.
Musa further noted that the local government dialogue was to inform stakeholders at that level on the action plan provided at the state level dialogue.
Abbas Bamalli NAN.
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Katsina State