Fodder Bank For Afram Plains

The free movement of cattle on the plains and the attendant destruction of farms, have always caused conflicts between farmers and Fulani herdsmen.

The free movement of cattle on the plains and the attendant destruction of farms, have always caused conflicts between farmers and Fulani herdsmen. Work on the construction of a 245-hectar fodder bank at Wawase in the Kwahu North District (Afram Plains) in the Eastern Region is progressing steadily.

The GH1, 800, 000 million-project is aimed at averting the frequent violent clashes between nomadic herdsmen and peasant farmers in the area.

The initiative is jointly being funded by the government of Ghana and the African Development Bank (AfDB).

Upon completion, the project would have an attached veterinary and four dugouts in four sections within which grass would be grown to feed the cattle on rotational basis.

This came to light when the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Victor Smith, visited the area to inspect the progress of work on the project, which started in February 2007 and is scheduled for completion in December 2012.

He also inspected ongoing work on a cattle market that has the capacity to hold 100 animals and a slaughter house, which are all being financed by the AfDB.

The Project Co-ordinator, Mr Kofi A. Tweneboa, said the frequent violent conflicts between Fulani herdsmen and peasant farmers in the Afram Plains did not auger well for farming in the food-basket district.

He said the project would make for cattle to be properly confined and that would curtail any future clashes and also, strenthen the district assembly to enforce its by-laws on stray animals.

He indicated that cattle that would be confined in the bank would be tagged and supervised by a well trained person to monitor their upkeep.

Mr Smith thanked the AfDB for its financial commitment to the project and called on the contractor to ensure the speedy execution of the project to enable the government resolve the Fulani herdsmen/farmer conflicts.