Community leaders in Magwi Eastern Equatoria State organized a round table discussion on the peaceful co-existence between the cattle keepers and farmers in the region
The discussion that was organized by Eastern Vision on Rehabilitation and Development Agency was prompted by complaints from farmers about cattle grazing on their farms.
Participant Dominic Otwari Siodo says cattle keepers and farmers can only co-exist when they are far from each other
‘I want to say that co-existence of animals and agriculture cannot happen unless they are separated. The cattle will finish all the grains of the farmers,’ he explains
Farmer Otto Richard said his livelihood farming but the relationship between farmers and cattle keepers in the area has never been smooth more especially at this time of cultivation.
Coordinator of Eastern Vision on Rehabilitation and Development Agency Oryema Emmanuel said the aim of the forum is to foster peaceful co-existence between cattle keepers and farmers in Magwi County.
Garang Marial is youth representative admits that cattle keepers are aware about the removal of cattle from farm lands but the process was interrupted by cattle disease and flood.
He mentioned the readiness of cattle keepers to leave the area.
Former commissioner of Magwi County Ochola Bosco Oringa said the two parties practice different social and cultural cohesion which are parallel to each other
‘It is quite impossible to say the host community and cattle herders should co-exist because the social, and cultural different. Culturally the herders live a different life and so are the farmers’, the commissioner explains.
In 2017, President Salva Kiir Mayardit issued a decree ordering removal of cattle from agricultural areas in Eastern Equatoria but the decree was not implemented.