President Tinubu Lauds Buni’s Massive Agricultural Investment Initiative in Yobe

ZAINAB JUNAID

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR has lauded Yobe State government for it’s massive investment in agriculture, supporting the Renewed Hope Initiative aim of achieving food security and transforming the state into an agricultural powerhouse.

The President made this known on Wednesday at the launch of the state’s Agricultural Empowerment Programme in Damaturu.

According to a statement signed by the DG Press and Media Affairs to the state Governor, Mamman Mohammed, the first citizen, represented by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Political and Other Matters, Alhaji Ibrahim Kabiru Masari, said the Yobe state agricultural empowerment programme aligns with the renewed Hope Agenda of the Federal Government.

He assured Federal Government’s partnership to improve agricultural productivity in the state.

The Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, informed that the state government procured 40 Massey Ferguson tractors, 1,961 Power Tillers, 1,250 Hand Push Planters, 553 Multi-Purpose Threshers, 3,410 Solar water pumps, 830 Fertilizer Applicator, 4,500 bags of NPK 20:10:10 Fertilizer and 195 Crop Residue crushers.

Other mechanised tools procured include: 495 Crop Residue choppers, 20,000 Assorted improved seeds, Assorted Agro Chemicals, 4,000 Bunch of Cassava Stems, Assorted Certified Seeds, 50 Tricycles and 30 Motorcycles were procured for the programme.

“In line with our policy to promote agricultural development in the state, I hereby direct that, the machines, equipment and other farm implements should be distributed free to deserving farmers. Additionally, I hereby direct a 50% subsidy on the sale of fertilizer to farmers” Gov. Buni said.

It could be recalled that Yobe state government last year procured and distributed 100 tractors, hand tilling machines, solar-powered irrigation machines, harvesters, threshers, assorted improved seedlings, and fertilizer among others.

Meanwhile, in a related development, the Governor eulogized President Tinubu on improved security in the state.

According to him, the improvement in security in the state has granted farmers access to their farmlands for agricultural production.

He noted that over 90 per cent of the state’s population are engaged in crop production, livestock farming or both.

“This becomes necessary for the government to be more committed to developing the sector for our people to migrate from subsistence farming to mechanized agriculture.

“Let me seize this opportunity to once again appreciate His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, for piloting the affairs of our great country at this very challenging moment.

“The commitment of your administration to security is no doubt yielding the desired result with our communities having access to their farmlands for increased agricultural productivity” he said.

The Governor commended the security forces for their resilience and sacrifices to restore peace and security in the state, adding the security has not only been improved, but has provided the opportunity to rebuild the destructions caused by the security challenge.

“I am proud to state with a very high sense of responsibility that our administration has over the years accorded great attention to all the critical sectors including agriculture, education, Healthcare delivery, road construction, water supply, wealth Creation and employment generation to improve the lives of our people.

“This administration has carefully and systematically embarked on an all-inclusive multi-sectorial approach to make our recovery programme successful and beneficial to our people across the 17 local government areas.

“It is gratifying that this administration has prudently and judiciously managed the state resources to address the destructions caused by the protracted security challenge and other decays caused by aging, especially on structures predating the creation of the state, and it is still, a work in progress” Governor Buni declared.