By Murtala Muhammad
Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has launched the distribution of forty new Tractors to twenty local government areas to encourage Climate-smart agriculture across the state.
He also inaugurated the distribution of one hundred motorcycles for forestry officers aimed at preventing incessant felling of trees which often leads to desertification and at the long run aggravate climate change.
At the event, the Governor launched other heavy duty equipment for distribution to include, Tippers, a Pen-Loader, and one Excavator meant for use to ensure sustainability of government’s project execution.
The machines were procured by the Bauchi State Project Management Unit (PMU) of the World Bank assisted Agro-climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL).
Governor Bala Mohammed said the equipment would enable the state compete favourably with its counterparts across the country, particularly in the areas of agricultural and infrastructure development as well as mitigation of deforestation.
He said each local government area would be given two Tractors in addition to the ones allocated them recently, assuring government’s resolve to support agricultural development efforts to ensure food security.
The Project Coordinator of ACReSAL, Dr Ibrahim Kabir said each of the twenty local government areas of the state would be given two Tractors, while the one hundred motorcycles would be shared among the beneficiaries based on their relevance and needs.
Some local government Chairmen who spoke to Radio Nigeria including that of Bogoro, Yakubu Lawi Sumi; Dambam, Iliya Isa Dagauda; Darazo, Ya’u Sade, Dass, Muhammad Abubakar Jibo; Kirfi, Abdulkadir Umar Dewu; Tafawa Balewa, Sama’ila Wakili Lere and Toro, Abubakar Ibrahim Debbo expressed their appreciation to the state government and the ACReSAL project, noting that the interventions would bring about significant impact in their respective communities.
Speaking, the Wife of the State Governor, Hajiya A’isha Bala Mohammed commended ACReSAL project for empowering over six hundred women in collaboration with her office on home-gardening and Climate-smart agriculture, aimed at improving household income, food security and protecting the environment.
