Food Security: Zulum traverses Dikwa communities, unveils initiative for farmers

… Orders rehabilitation of school, inspects resettlement community

Trying to prepare farmers ahead of upcoming rainy season, Borno State Governor, Prof Babagana Umara Zulum, on Tuesday 2nd June, 2020 criss-crossed farming communities in Dikwa local government area.

The Governor drove through the thick forest, from Kala Balge via Ngala-Marte to Dikwa.

Zulum’s trip to the agrarian communities was to explore how farming activities can be restored in other to create livelihoods for settlers.

Zulum in Dikwa, announced what he called uptakers initiatives, through which thousands of farmers in the state will be supported. He stressed that the initiative will encourage farmers to go back to their farmlands. This is to enable an improved food security in the state.

“The State Government has made arrangements ahead this raining season. Farmers shall be provided with agricultural inputs, we have an arrangement we call “uptakers”, under which all verified farmers in the resettled communities shall be supported.” Zulum said.

To achieve this objectives, Governor Zulum has constituted a committee headed by the Commissioner of Agriculture, Engr. Bukar Talba. This is to ensure farming activities are carried out across the state.

“You have seen that the agricultural potentials of Borno State is unimaginary, very vast, fertile land. From Mafa up to Kala Balge, that’s about 200km. What we intend to do is to utilise this land that were left in the last one decade.”

“This administration has constituted a committee under the Chairmanship of the Commissioner of Agriculture, to cultivate thousands of hectares of land this year. This is to make the state food sufficient, the major crops we intend to plant are; Rice, Sesame, cowpea and sorghum. To meet up to the demands of food supplies in the state.” Zulum said.

Also in Dikwa, Zulum assessed the destruction of Government Teachers College, Dikwa. The Governor after assessing the facility, directed the ministry of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement to immediately send a technical team to determine the extent of damage.

“Commissioner of RRR (reconciliation, rehabilitation and resettlement), liaise with the ministry of education. Send a technical team to this school to exermine the extent of damage in the school, those that can be renovated and those that cannot be renovated. Make sure you make adequate evaluation, including the parameter fencing.” Zulum said.

… Inspects resettlement community

Meanwhile, Zulum on his way back to Maiduguri stopped over at Ajiri, a community in Mafa Local Government Area.

The Governor, inspected an estate of 500 houses built to resettle communities displaced by the Boko Haram insurgents.