The local administration in Asalaya locality, East Darfur state, in cooperation with the Ministry of Health, launched an initiative including a caravan to nomadic areas aimed at raising awareness to prevent livestock from entering farms during the pre-harvest period.

The chief, Younis Mohamed Salem, told Darfur24 that the initiative aims to educate nomads not to bring livestock into farmers’ fields, especially in the localities of Yassin and Shaeria.

He explained that the awareness program seeks to improve the relationship between herders and farmers and address all challenges that accompanied last year’s harvest period.

Younis pointed out that the caravan established a medical camp and circumcised 400 children from the nomads, supported by the Ministry of Health, a step that was widely accepted by the nomads.

Last year, the localities of Shaeria and Yassin witnessed several clashes between farmers and nomads during the harvest period, resulting in eight deaths due to livestock entering farms in what is known as “Al-Taliq”.

This period coincides with the migration phase of nomads from the north to the south.

Herders in many areas of Darfur are accustomed to bringing livestock into farms at the beginning of planting and during the harvest season, causing extensive damage to agricultural activity.