Brief on Ladduga Grazing Reserve, Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State

BRIEF ON LADDUGA GRAZING RESERVE, KACHIA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF KADUNA STATE Introduction Livestock production in Nigeria is predominantly in the hand of pastoralists who constitute a major socio-economic group in the country. They own over 90% of the country’s estimated 15.3 million cattle, 21 million sheep and 26 million goats (FAO 2004) with substantial holdings of other livestock species. Beef intake from this cattle population in the country is responsible for over 45% of all animal protein intakes by the average population. Pastoral production is predicated on the use of extensive grazing on rangelands and complementary use of bye products of crop production for rearing livestock. It is the main source of meat, milk, hides and skin and other related livestock products (Bone meal, Blood meal, Manure, Hooves, and Horns etc). It is also the country’s reservoir of animals for slaughter and draft power in addition to being a major contributor to the economy of the nation’s GDP. 1 The pastoral production system that evolved over the centuries is based on grazing animals on natural pastures with frequent movement of families and animals from one place to another according to seasons in the annual cycle. Though transhumance may be occasionally prompted by threats of animal diseases or personal security, the practice is dictated primarily by availability of fodder, crop residue and water for stock needs. Transhumance, as a form of livestock management, is becoming increasingly difficult or nearly impossible for lack of access to land in the wake of rapid population and agricultural expansion which results in high competitive demands of lands for other uses. The contemporary emerging trends in land use pattern and state of natural resource development and conservation in Nigeria show that pastoral livestock production is at cross-roads with uncertain future. Livestock development and empowerment of pastoralists is plagued by a number of problems. These include, among others, diminishing availability of land space for grazing, stock movement, deterioration of existing rangelands with low biomass yields, scarcities of water and poor carrying capacities, endemic diseases and parasites, skewed agricultural development policies as well as lack of education and relevant training. Therefore, to address these challenges, the issue for the provision of education and training is of paramount importance for nomadic pastoralists. In order to address the educational and training component, the Federal Government of Nigeria established the National Commission for Nomadic Education (NCNE) by Decree 41 of 1989 (now Cap 243 LFN). The programme recognized from the on- set the multi-dimensional nature of the pastoralists’ problems, which require a multi-agency approach to finding lasting solutions. Suffice to mention that Education and Training Programme of the Nomadic Pastoralists require enabling environment for full realization of the benefits. Over the years, the Commission has been able to establish model nomadic education centres where nomads are settling especially in grazing reserves, fishing ports and farm centres. The National Livestock Program Development (NLPD) in collaboration with States and Local Governments has been at the fore-front in the Development, Management and Protection of Grazing Reserves and Migratory Routes. These efforts have facilitated the Commission’s drive in the implementation of the Nomadic Education Programme particularly in Kachia (Ladduga) Grazing Reserve which was carved out in the early 60s to address mounting challenges associated with nomadism and pastoralism in Nigeria. The establishment of the grazing reserve by the Kaduna State government was aimed at creating windows of opportunity for nomadic pastoralist to benefit from the provision of social, political, 2 environmental and economic services hitherto not enjoyed by them. Such services includes engendering gradual settlement, reduction of incessant conflicts between pastoralists and farmers, provision of water and sanitation, earth dams, boreholes, health clinics, veterinary and extension services, livestock improvement programmes, access to markets, rural roads and educational services. The overall goal is to improve the Nigerian Livestock Economy and increase Agricultural Gross Domestic Products. Kachia Grazing Reserve. The grazing reserve with size of 88,411 hectares was officially gazzetted in 1996 by the Kaduna State Government. The Grazing Reserve is divided into six blocks for settlement of nomads with transhumant corridor for temporary settlement. Leadership Structure There grazing reserve has a district called Ladduga which is under Ikulu Chiefdom. It has a district head and eight village heads located at Wuro Nyako, Nassarawa, Wuro Fulbe, wuro Modi, Wuro Saleh, Tilde Bayero, Mayo Borno and Ladduga. Human and Animal Population There are about 22,000 people, 26,000 cattle, 5000 sheep, 4380 goats, 123 donkeys and 15,000 poultry within the grazing reserve. These numbers are at peak during the wet season and diminish during the dry season as a result of outmigration of animals and people. However, majority of the population are settled. Basic Facilities provided in the Grazing Reserve A number of facilities have been provided in the reserve through the intervention of governmental and non-governmental organizations including NLPD, SMANR, NCNE, PARE, Pathfinder International, ADB and IDF. The facilities include:6 Earth dams;11 boreholes;1 major access road ;A Community health; 2 Veterinary Clinics; Livestock Service Centre ;Livestock training centre; a secondary school; 8 ECCD Centers; Milk Collection Centre and 18 Nomadic Primary Schools and one Major Model Nomadic Education Centre provided integrated services encompassing, education, income generation and entrepreneurship skills for children, youths, adult and women groups. 3 Model Nomadic Business Development Ventures, Ladduga Kachia Grazing Reserve and Solar Powered Bore Hole supported by the ADF-Assisted Skills Training and Vocational Education Project. NCNE Intervention Over the years, the Commission has adopted a number of multi-faceted approaches and strategies in the provision of education to the nomads to engender their support and attract enthusiasm towards education. Some of these strategies include advocacy, sensitization and mobilization of the parents and communities through strengthening their organizational capacities using grass-root training and retraining, radio, extension education and face- to -face interaction. Other strategies includes establishment of model centers with various forms of structures to attract settlement. One example is the model centre located at Wuro Nyako within the Kachia Grazing Reserve. KEY INITIATIVES AT WURO NYAKO NOMADIC EDUCATION CENTRE Wuro Nyako Nomadic Model Centre started in 1990 as a community school with 15 pupils. In 1993 the community mobilized and constructed two local classes and recruited two teachers. The school was taken over by the government in 1997. The Commission in 2000 constructed a block of 3-classroom with store and office, veterinary clinic and a well. Similarly, another 3-classroom block was constructed in 2014 to content the increase in enrolment of pupils and adult learners. Today, the school has 544 pupils (260 males and 284 Females) and five teachers paid by the local government while the community is taking responsibility of three teachers. 4 Young nomadic girls enrolled at Ladduga Model Centre Achievements Advocacy, Mobilization and Sensitization of the Community Provision of Extension Education Services Provision of basic education services Provision of instructional materials and facilities (classroom, borehole, well, clinics, mobile structures, etc) Capacity development of teachers (Training and Re-training on pedagogical skills) Use of Interactive Radio Instruction (IRI) to improve quality of tuition Use of e-learning - an ICT-based methodology in pursuit of its pedagogical shift to expand access to qualitative basic education to the nomads. 5 Girl Child Education – aimed at improving access to girls participation and completion in basic education Provision of functional education through adult literacy programmes for youths, women and men for acquisition of relevant skills and knowledge for sustainable livelihood. 6 centres established Establishing and Strengthening the Capacity of PTAs with a District PTA Establishment of Radio Listening Groups for Distance Learning Scheme (DLS) Formation and Management of Cooperative Societies (14) with and APEX body called Mbela Provision of Animal Health and Production Programmes Provision of Maternal Child Health Programmes 6 Income Generation Activities (pomade, soap, yoghurt, cheese and butter, honey, shea butter, fashion design and ICT) Training of Community Animal Health Extension Workers (CAHEWS) Strengthening the capacity of members of cooperative societies in the area of cooperative organization, management, finance handling, banking and record keeping Training of members of Parent Teachers Associations on active community participation, self help development which culminated into the establishment of central district PTA Training of members of the community on artificial insemination in collaboration with Land O Lakes USA and The Pastoral Resolve. The nomadic women cooperative groups were trained on skill acquisition for income generating activities such as modern method of dairy processing and packaging, groundnut oil extraction, handcrafts,

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