By Lanre Shodimu
As the farming season draws closer, governmeny accross the federation are putting every steps in place to assist farmers to achieve maximum result . One of such is, the Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, who recently empowered 1,000 farmers with solar-powered irrigation pumps and other critical agricultural inputs, to boost food security and the livelihoods of those affected in the over a decade Boko Haram insurgency in the state.
According to him, the massive empowerment initiative targeted small-scale irrigation farmers in the Kumadugu/Yobe River Basin of Borno.
While distributing the agricultural irrigation inputs at Damaturu, a border community with Niger, Zulum said: “From the beginning of this administration in 2019, dry season irrigation farming was to enhance livelihoods of Internally Displaced Person (IDP) returnees, who are gradually resettling in their communities of Mobbar Local Council Area.
He said that the efficient and effective applications of the distributed irrigation inputs could also ensure food security and employment among the youths and women in the council areas.
While recognizing the need to engage farmers in the dry season, the governor stated, “In recognition of the limitations of rain-fed agriculture, particularly in the context of climate change and insecurity, the state government adopted an all-year-round farming activities.
Recognising the critical limitations of rain-fed agriculture in the context of climate change, insecurity, and the rising population of IDP returnees, the state government implemented a dual-season production strategy to ensure all-year round farming.
He continued: “Today’s distribution of 1,000 solar-powered water pumps and 200 complete tube wells drilling kits was build upon earlier targeted interventions in Damasak and surrounding communities, including irrigation infrastructure development, mechanisation services, farmer-training, cooperative support, and security stabilisation measures.
“The state remains aligned with the Presidential Food Systems Coordinating Unit (PFSCU) and continued collaboration with relevant Federal Ministries and development partners to strengthen agricultural productivity, processing, and market integration in the Northeast region.”
Zulum was accompanied to the border community with Niger by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, and the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, and other senior government officials from the state.
