US Ambassador to Nigeria Stuart Symington has said ranching is the best way to breed cattle rather than open grazing as clashes between herdsmen and farmers rage in the country.
Symington noted this on Monday when he visited Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State in Makurdi to commiserate with him over the recent killings in the state by suspected herdsmen.
According to him, with ranching, the country would become one of the top producers of milk in the world.
“I come from a family of farmers and part of my family used to move cattle from one state called Colorado to another state called Texas every year and over time they changed until now the cow business that they do is very much one that takes advantage of the land and we have to move them on trucks,” the ambassador added.
“I had a great conversation the other day just outside the city of Jos with one of the great milk producers of the world, a company that produces milk.
“And I talked to the guy and he was mentioning to me that the milk that comes from the Fulani cattle could be incorporated into the milk produced here.
“Literally the future of the nation could be rich when the milk of those herders get fed to the sons and daughters of families and their vegetables get fed to the sons and daughters of the herders.
“I am happy that you are thinking in this direction Mr. Governor.”
