Embattled Ayade Banks On King Grass To End Herders-Farmers’ Clashes

Governor of Cross River State, Professor Ben Ayade, says Nigeria will effectively end the recurrent farmers-herders clashes by mass producing a rare regenerative organic grass, nicknamed ‘King Grass’.

Ayade, who is still smarting from the recent open media hostility with his Rivers State counterpart, Nyesom Wike, said growing the grass in commercial quantity is the way out for the country going forward.

Speaking at the demonstration planting of the grass at the Industrial Park in Calabar, Governor Ayade said Cross River was pioneering the production of the grass in collaboration with technical partners from Cambodia to further his administration’s multi-faceted agro- industrialisation drive.

According to him, the grass is a special pasture “that grows more than two meters within 45 days of planting and once it is cut, it regenerates even faster.

“So, within a small landmass, you can keep your cattle and grow this special grass and feed them.”

He said; “Herders have a right to the source of their livelihood. So, they move from place to place in search of pasture for their cattle, thus pitting them against farmers who also have the right to protect their crops.

“To put an end to this intractable conflict between these two groups, I have sought partnership with a team of experts from Cambodia and they are here with a special grass specie called king grass.”

Ayade said it is economically unviable for herders to stress their cattle by walking them through long distances whereas they can keep them in a location and feed them with King Grass.

He said the planned grass specie “grows lusciously and luxuriously and contains high level of nutrients for the cow, which ultimately make cow healthy for consumption.”

Offering further explanations on the King Grass’ unique nature, the Cross River Chief Executive said it has the ability to grow under any climatic condition, having been successfully demonstrated in the three senatorial zones of the state, which have different climatic conditions.

He said with the Obudu Cattle Ranch in Northern Cross River as a pilot scheme, the State government is already working on creating a feeding lot where King Grass is fully grown and fed to the cattle in the ranch.

Specifically offering his thoughts on current insecurity ravaging the country, Governor Ayade said; “My ambition is national security and oneness of this country.

“I am therefore, announcing to Nigerians that Cross River has got a permanent solution to the herders- farmers’ conflict.”

Giant King Grass, which goes by the scientific name ‘Pennisetum hybridum’, is a fast growing, high yield, perennial grass with many applications, including bioenergy and animal feed. It is not genetically modified and not invasive. It grows in a variety of soil conditions and does not compete with food crops.

The species is perenne and can grow up to 3 meters in height. It is also a gramineae adapted to tropical conditions with a wide distribution of rain conditions and soil fertility, including low fertility acidic soils.