CATTLE TRADE AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF MAIGATARI ECONOMY IN JIGAWA STATE, NIGERIA, 1960-2010
ABSTRACT
This study examines cattle trade and its place in the development of Maigatari economy in Jigawa state, Nigeria between 1960-2010.It is an important variable in the country’s development equation. It is a trade dominated by Nigerians and Nigeriens including a proportion of the local people. Then government through the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources with the support of non-governmental organization such as Directory of International Development (DFID) has been concerned with upgrading the sector as well as the contribution of the trade to the economic development of the community. Government efforts have been focused on balancing the protein requirements of its citizens to achieve an acceptable human growth. This has failed due to inadequate consideration given to the cattle trade. This study recuperates the unsung history of cattle trade and highlights its proper place in the economic development of Maigatari community and Nigeria in general. Important aspects of Maigatari economy, especially cattle production and its spread effects to other sectors in the economy are brought into focus. Relying on the fieldwork data, derived from oral Interview and written data elicited from libraries and other stakeholders in the cattle sector, the study evaluates the impact of the trade on the economy and people of Maigatari. The research shows that an increase in cattle production created a good atmosphere for cattle trade. Also the cattle trade has been a source of income and nutritional products. In spite of all these benefits, cattle trade is faced with problems such as farmer/grazier conflicts, harassment on the road, and lack of funds on the part of the cattle rearers, insecurity, and lack of education. Based on the available data from the fieldwork, the work presents suggestions on how government and other agencies could come together to foster sustainable development in the cattle trade not only in Maigatari but also in Nigeria at large. The method of research applied of quantitative as well as qualitative, chronological and inter- disciplinary thematic with 1960-2010 as the time frame.