By, Sani Gazas Chinade, Damaturu
President Ahmed Bola Tinubu aunched multi Billion Naira Agricultural empowerment for farmers in Yobe state selected across 178 electoral wards in the state at large with improvement of security across the state.
The project was fully funded by the Yobe State government to boasts agricultural activities and to improved Food production in the state.
The President who’s represented by Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima, pointed out that agriculture is a fundamental priority that they should pursue with vigor across all the tiers of government “I am delighted and honored to join Yobeans on the objective of Food security, and there’s no way we can achieve our goals and objectives whether in the state or national level until we support and empower our farmers, and we must ensure that they have the modern tools, resources and knowledge to optimize their production capacity respectively.”
In his speechs host Governor, Mai Mala Bunu said that, the distribution arrangement is made up of 30 farmers in each of the 178 electoral wards of the State making a total of 5,340 farmers to benefit from the scheme.
“Except for the tractors and fertilizer, all the other agricultural equipment and inputs are to be given out free to our large-scale, medium, and subsistence farmers in the state as arranged.
According to him, the efforts we believe will augment large-scale agro-value chain development in the State”.
“Mr.President sir, your esteemed presence at this occasion today gives our people a sense of belonging as being celebrated with resounding cheers by the mammoth crowd since your arrival, to the state capital Damaturu.
“Therefore, wish to reassure you that the good people of Yobe state would continue to support your administration as you strive to improve the economy, security, and other developmental challenges facing the nation at large”.
The Governor revealed that “Yobe State as you know is one of the states grossly devastated by protracted security challenge.
The inaccessibility to farmlands due to security threats and other natural factors such as erosion, desert encroachment, low rainfall, etc have massively affected agricultural productivity with monumental consequences on the lives of our predominantly agricultural population, and the economy of the state at large”.
“Despite all the challenges, agriculture remains the major preoccupation of Yobeans.”
Therefore, has made agriculture the key sector for the post-insurgency economic recovery program.
The Yobe state government has adopted these strategic to revitalize the sector, Convening of Agricultural Summit to chart a new course for productivity improvement.
The yobe state government has Constitution a Steering Committee on Revitalization of Agriculture, and developing a State Sector Strategic Plan in conjunction with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Developed agricultural policy document to achieve food security and contribute to National economic diversification.
The document has been validated in collaboration with the EU-Yobe Public Finance Management (PFM) Project, in conjunction with DAI international.”
He added that “The Yobe State Government in collaboration with the Federal Government has established Livestock Development Centers (LDCs) to curb farmers/ herdsmen clashes, commercial pasture production, and increase in meat and dairy production.
The State is currently reviving the 2000 hectares Lava Irrigation Scheme in the Bursari Local Government Area to cultivate wheat, rice, and vegetables in the next dry season irrigation program. As a leading state with the largest production of high-quality Sesame seeds, we have established four Sesame seed processing factories in Damaturu, Nguru, Machina, and Potiskum”.
The yobe state Government has also awarded the contract for the rehabilitation of the Agricultural Development Programme Headquarters in Damaturu and the five Zonal Offices in Buni-Yadi, Geidam, Gashua, Nguru, and Potiskum to enhance effective and accessible extension services to our farmers.
The Damaturu International Cargo Airport would effectively be used to transport livestock, meat, dairy products, Gum Arabic, Sesame seeds, cowpeas, and groundnuts within and outside the country”.
“Your Excellencies, distinguished invited guests, ladies, and gentlemen, this State Visit is no doubt a significant milestone as we launch the agricultural empowerment program with a distribution of 100 Zoom Lion Tractors, 10 IMC Double Cabin 4 wheel drive vehicles for supervision of the extension service workers, 200 motorcycles to extension service workers to boost agricultural extension services, 300 sets of Ox-drawn plows, 5,349 small ruminants (goats), 1,349 hand push planters, 889 hand-push plow machines, 590 hand-push tiller machines, 4,202 solar-powered irrigation water pumps, improved assorted seeds and 72,000 bags of fertilizer, among others”.
Buni further explained that “Government has instituted some measures to check abuse and sale of the machines by the beneficiaries to avoid sabotaging the lofty goals of the intended agricultural revolution in the state.
According to him, the tractors are to be in the custody of the State Agricultural Development Programme at the Headquarters in Damaturu and the zonal offices in Buni Yadi, Geidam, Gashua, Nguru, and Potiskum, to be hired out to individuals and group farmers.
The Agricultural Development Programme would be carefully monitored to ensure service efficiency, effective maintenance, and accountability in proceeds accruing from the hire of the tractors”.
Therefore the Governor warned the beneficiaries in strong terms that the government would not tolerate any act of sabotage to frustrate their commitments to make agriculture attractive, profitable, sustainable, and economically viable and, to guarantee food sufficiency and food security in the state.
“He added that, the government would deal ruthlessly with any official, individual, or group who tests our will in this regard. I hereby direct the security agencies to arrest and impound tractors and other machines crossing the border lines of the state, while such saboteurs are made to face the full wrath of the law”.
“Let me use this opportunity to passionately appeal to the good people of Yobe State to take advantage of this laudable opportunity to embrace agriculture for us to cultivate and produce what we eat to ensure food security and economic development”.
“You will recall the sad and unfortunate experiences we had in Yobe, Borno, and Adamawa states during the trying moments of adverse security challenges when our people could not access their farmlands as peace eluded this part of the country”.
“We know better, what the absence of peace means. We have many sad stories to tell from our horrible experiences.
We cannot afford to invite any other threat to peace and security.
Therefore, we should jealously guard the peace we now enjoy and never be part of any plot to disturb our hard-earned peace.
We must not create opportunities for our common enemies to take advantage of any form of protest to send us into another dark and horrible experience.
Therefore, the Yobe state is categorically saying, NO to protests, and would not participate in any form of protest at all.
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