By Awwal Umar Kontagora The Niger State Government has officially launched the distribution of tractors and various empowerment initiative...
By Awwal Umar Kontagora
The Niger State Government has officially launched the distribution of tractors and various empowerment initiatives, including land reclamation, borehole drilling, and programs for youth and women. These efforts are part of the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACRESAL) project aimed at tackling climate change, environmental degradation, and food insecurity in local communities.
As part of the empowerment program, 100 youth will receive training on establishing plant nurseries, while 100 women will focus on seedling production. The event took place at the ACRESAL multipurpose Nursery Plant at Abdulkadir Kure University in Minna.
Farmer Governor Umaru Bago stated that this program aligns with his administration’s commitment to combat the adverse effects of environmental degradation in the state. Represented by his Deputy, Comrade Yakubu Garba, he noted that the project would help the state develop multi-sectoral approaches for desertification control and landscape management, ultimately enhancing community resilience and improving the livelihoods of rural residents.
Beneficiaries of the empowerment program will receive starter packs for establishing plant nurseries at various locations across the state, with Abdulkadir Kure University serving as the initial site. Additional sites in Bida, Kontagora, New Bussa, and Suleja will follow in the near future.
The drilling of boreholes, planned to occur in phases, aims to enhance water provision and sanitation in communities. The first phase will benefit areas including Abdulkadir Kure University, Kpanduko in Bosso, Baidna in Paikoro, Kaliko in Wushishi, Labozhi in Mokwa, Agaie, and Bida.
Raji Shehu Adam, the State Coordinator of ACRESAL, provided an overview of the project, highlighting that the tractors have been procured in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Each of the 25 Local Government Areas will receive one tractor, with the first phase benefiting 10 Local Government Areas.
A portal will be opened for interested youth to register for starter packs, with ACRESAL serving as an off-taker of their produce. Women will be selected from various groups across the state.
In their goodwill messages, Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Abdulmalik Sarkin Daji, and Commissioner for Agriculture, Salihu Bawa Bosso, praised the Farmer Governor for initiatives that positively impact the lives of citizens.
Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, Yakubu Mohammed Kolo, emphasized that engaging communities in sustainable land management practices will help prevent land degradation, restore ecosystems, and enhance biodiversity in the state’s semi-arid landscapes.
During the event, the Farmer Governor, represented by his deputy, Comrade Yakubu Garba, made a symbolic presentation of tractors and participated in a tree-planting ceremony.
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