Local authorities in Wulu County of Lakes State have raised an alarm about an increasing influx of cattle into the county and said it poses a threat to farms and beehives.
The governor last year issued an order banning the movement of cattle and armed herders to farming areas of Wulu County and Mvolo County of Western Equatoria State.
The commissioner of Wulu County, Jima Defalla Rejab, told Radio Tamazuj over the weekend that the presence of large herds of cattle from Rumbek East and Rumbek Central counties into Wulu County has created tension between the farmers, beekeepers, and the armed cattle keepers.
“At the moment they have no farms to destroy, but the problem is that farming activities cannot be carried out while this huge herds of cattle are present.” Commissioner Defalla said. “They (armed herders) loot people’s properties and destroy beehives on the trees. They climb up trees and bring down farmers’ beehives. This is the only problem people are facing in the villages.”
He said the governor last year issued an order banning the movement of cattle from the Wulu area to the Lol-Manyiel wetlands for easy identifications of stolen cattle and that the people who have migrated with cattle to his county are those who are dodging disarmament.
“I was called by the former commissioner of Rumbek Central County and he informed me that there are cattle crossing to Wulu but I told that it will not happen because this is something banned by the governor,” Commissioner Defalla said. “If you want cattle to cross Wulu territory, then you get a pass permit from the cattle migration committee formed by the governor and this is when I can allow cattle to pass. Without clearance, there will be no way they can pass here.”
Martin Augustine, a youth from Wulu County, said the cattle keepers destroy beehives in the forest and this will lead to a shortage of honey next season.
“Cattle destroy cassava and potatoes farms while the cattle keepers destroy beehives and this will create problems between the farmers and the cattle keepers,” Augustine said. “We want the governor of Lakes State to return the cattle to their respective grazing areas in Toch.”