The Kulen Allah Cattle Rearers Association of Nigeria has called on herders and farmers across Nigeria to respect farmlands, grazing reserves and designated cattle routes as the 2026/2027 farming season begins, warning that renewed conflicts between the two groups could worsen food insecurity, deepen economic hardship and undermine national stability.
In a statement signed by its National President, Khalil Mohammed Bello, the association appealed to pastoralists to avoid the destruction of crops during grazing and migration while urging farmers not to encroach on designated grazing reserves or block recognized cattle routes.
KACRAN said the appeal had become necessary given Nigeria’s current economic realities, worsening insecurity and the need to maximize agricultural production to guarantee food availability and affordability for millions of citizens.
The association noted that insecurity across several parts of the country continues to consume huge public resources that could otherwise be invested in infrastructure, agriculture and social development.
It further observed that armed conflicts, banditry, kidnapping and communal violence have disrupted farming, livestock production and fisheries, forcing many rural dwellers to flee their communities and leaving large expanses of farmland uncultivated.
According to the association, rising fuel costs, inflation and increasing prices of agricultural inputs have also made farming more expensive, making it imperative for stakeholders to protect every available hectare of farmland and grazing land from avoidable destruction.
“Herders and farmers are partners in progress,” the association said, stressing that sustainable peace can only be achieved through mutual respect, adherence to the law and a commitment to peaceful coexistence.
The appeal comes against the backdrop of decades-long tensions between farmers and pastoralists across Nigeria, particularly in the North Central region, parts of the Northwest and increasingly in southern states.
Historically, pastoralists moved livestock along established grazing routes stretching from the far north to central and southern parts of the country. However, rapid population growth, urban expansion, agricultural intensification and environmental degradation have significantly reduced available grazing lands.
Climate change and desertification in northern Nigeria have further intensified pressure on land resources, forcing many pastoralists to move farther south in search of water and pasture.
As farming activities expanded into traditional grazing corridors and livestock routes, disputes over land use became more frequent. In many cases, destruction of crops by cattle and retaliatory attacks against herders have triggered cycles of violence that have claimed thousands of lives over the years.
Security analysts have repeatedly identified farmer-herder clashes as one of Nigeria’s most persistent internal security challenges, with significant humanitarian and economic consequences.
Agricultural experts warn that the recurring conflict has contributed to declining agricultural productivity in many parts of the country.
Communities affected by violence often abandon farms during planting or harvesting seasons, while livestock owners lose animals to attacks, theft and displacement.
The disruption of farming activities has also affected supply chains, increased transportation costs and contributed to food inflation, which remains one of the major drivers of the rising cost of living in Nigeria.
Several studies by development agencies have shown that conflict-related disruptions in agriculture are among the factors threatening Nigeria’s ability to achieve food self-sufficiency despite its vast agricultural potential.
KACRAN noted that international projections indicate that millions of Nigerians could face food insecurity in the coming years if measures are not taken to protect agricultural production and rural livelihoods.
The issue of grazing reserves and cattle routes has remained one of the most contentious aspects of Nigeria’s livestock management policy.
Following independence, federal and regional authorities established numerous grazing reserves and stock routes to facilitate livestock movement and reduce conflicts with farmers.
However, many of these routes have either disappeared or been encroached upon due to urbanization, agricultural expansion and weak enforcement of land-use regulations.
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