From Olukayode idowu, Damaturu
Yobe State Government is prepared to plant three million trees across the state to fight desertification.
The Yobe State Commissioner for Environment, Hon. Sidi Karasuwa, said already three million tree seedlings are being raised to fight desertification across the state.
Karasuwa, who said the raising of tree seedlings at Nangere Nursery, cost N136 million and will be distributed for transplanting in communities across the state.
The Commissioner who announced the types of tree seedlings to be raised Thursday in Damaturu, disclosed that: “The released N136 million, is to effectively raise economic tree seedlings for Gam Arabic, Cashew, Neem, Khaya Senegalensis, Parkia, Moringa and Acacia Nilotica at Nangere nursery.”
He said the three million tree seedlings project, was to effectively combat desertification and climate through communal agricultural activities.
He lamented that desertification has already encroached into Machina, Geidam, Yusufari, Yunusari, Tarmuwa, Karasuwa, Fune, Bursari and Potiskum councils.
He revealed that out of 1,500km of 11 desert front line states in the country, Yobe has 300 kilometres stretch of desertification.
Karasuwa said: “Yobe is the most hit, as nine local government areas in northern part of the state is being encroached by desertification.”
He said that desertification in the affected councils travels at the rate of 600 meters per annum.
Karasuwa said that the seedlings were carefully selected and certified by experts to suit tropical plantations.
“We’ve already adopted measures that will create communal ownership of various plantations,” the Commissioner said.