Nianija Chief Warns Cattle Owners

Seyfo Alasan David Cham, the Chief of Nianija district has issued a stern warning to cattle owners in his district to take control of their cattle to prevent them from destroying farms.

According to the Chief who spoke to this reporter in the Central River Region, he has received a series of complaints regarding cattle infringing into peoples' farms, noting that he will not compromise with any offender.

He stated that rules are in place and anyone whose cattle destroys peoples' farm will be dealt with according to the law.

"Now is the time to reap what we have been toiling for since at the beginning of the rainy season up to date and the proceeds gained from the farms is what is used for feeding, payment of school fees, health bills and other domestic and social problems," he stated.

Noting that cattle owners are fond of releasing their cattle's into people farms for grazing, he said, farming is not an easy thing to be destroyed by animals.

Seyfo Cham further asserted that if this trend continues, the country might not achieve its dream of ensuring food self-sufficiency.

Chief Cham revealed that the whole district is aware of the rules through their various Alkalolu and the rules will be accordingly implemented.

"The Masalaha syndrome will no more be observed if we are to implement the rules effectively and be food self-sufficient," he added.

Seyfo Cham used the opportunity to call on government and NGOs to give more support to individual Kafoos within the district. As he put it, poor farmers are in need of money to take care of their familial problems.

"If the individual Kaffos are supported with loans, they will buy these products from the farmers at a recommended prize and keep them in stores until in the rainy season when they will in turn give it to the farmers on loan with little or low interest," he noted.

 This, he added, will serve as a revolving loan for farmers within the area.