ACReSAL Empowers 7,520 Farmers, Other Interventions Ongoing In Adamawa

Adamawa state through Agro-Climate Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) has empowered 7,520 farmers affected by flood for rainfed and irrigation farming with inputs and water pumps.

Commissioner for Environment Mohammed Sadiq said the inputs were distributed to beneficiaries individually and through their cooperative societies, in line with an end target of 3-4 million direct project beneficiaries.

Sadiq highlighted that under the afforestation project 1,800 hectares of government -gazetted forest reserves and public institutions  21 landscape management and farming skills acquisition centres were established across the state with one hectare of regenerative agriculture demonstration farms and a 20,000 seedling capacity nursery each.

Also 20,000 farmers were trained on regenerative agriculture-based agroforestry skills across the state.

Renovating and equipping offices were also carried out in line ministries, installing solar-powered inverters and providing project supervision vehicles and sinking of solar-powered across 24 communities, establishment of 376 hectares of regenerative agriculture adoption farms for 900 farmers with no access to their farmlands. The target is 2100ha by 2025 and establishment of a 400 hectares palm oil plantation in Toungo LGA.

The Commissioner also hinted that, purchase of Water Drill to boost water availability, adding purchase of 21 tractors to boost agricultural production to boost agriculture in the state.

He stated ongoing intervention

to include revamping of the 6,000 hectare irrigation scheme in Dwam, ongoing work on rehabilitating and building dams in Timdore-Ganye, Guyaku-Gombi, and Moyo-Wandu-Madagali.

Also ongoing is the Greening of Greater Yola starting from the 97 hectare 1,000 Housing Estate, Malkohi, throughout Yola-North, Yola South and Girei LGAs.

ACReSAL also embarked on disbursement of community revolving funds to 21 communities across the state while  activities on the rehabilitation of gullies in Sangassumi, Saminaka, and Gulak is ongoing.

Establishment of Environmental clubs in 10 boarding schools and expanding to other schools,

rehabilitation of classrooms, large and small ruminant pens, poultry, fish hatcheries and fish ponds in all Landscape Management and Farming Skills Acquisition Centers across the state is still under progress.

The project on provision of cookstoves and training on  briquette making is also being carried out currently.

One of the beneficiaries, Sanusi Mohammed from Yola-North said he received free land, agro pesticide, land, soya beans seed and improved maize seeds which has improved his crop yields compared to the previous years.

Another beneficiary, Hatonopwa Isaiah lauded  ACReSAL for making available improved Soya beans seeds, maize seeds and manure to ease her farming business, thereby improving harvest on her farm.

Persons living with disability Lydia Sini, also benefited from potato seeds, fertilizer, rice and tree seedlings for planting.

Meanwhile, the Network of Advocates for the Protection and Sustenance of Green Environment, led by its National President and Kannywood Actress, Mansur Isa who were on advocacy visit to the state, said they want to ensure that all trees planted in the state are protected and geared towards tackling deforestation in the state.