National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in The Netherlands with Groasis B.V and Boplas Industries Limited Nigeria for the production of the waterboxx in Nigeria.
The Groasis waterboxx is an innovation adopted to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of Great Green Wall planting activities in the 11 frontline field operational areas of the agency.
The waterboxx is an ecological water-saving technology that has proved its effectiveness in enhancing tree survival, increasing growth speed, and reducing the amount of water being used to plant millions of trees in 55 countries around the world.
The NAGGW led by the director-general Dr. Yusuf Maina Bukar expressed its interest by keying into the advanced technology on irrigation methods for implementation in its GGW programmes.
A statement yesterday in Abuja signed by the head, information and corporate communications unit (ICCU), NAGGW, Mrs Pauline Sule, said talks between the agency and Groasis CEO, Mr Wout Hoff started in May 2022 and culminated into an MoU that will see Nigeria-based Boplas Industries Limited become the official licensed producer of the waterboxx in Nigeria.
“This will be a tripartite agreement between NAGGW, Groasis B.V, and Boplas Industries Limited will accelerate Nigeria’s Tree Planting campaign in the GGW belt, boost economic activities, create thousands of new jobs, and ultimately reposition the Agency to achieve its mandate of transforming the Great Great Wall belt into an economic hub,” he said.
Bukar said the Groasis waterboxx technology as an advanced irrigation method will enhance the survival rate of seedlings and trees in Sahel and Sahara dryland areas by 90 per cent.
He said it will also ”accelerate and provide more sustainable agriculture in the NAGGW tree planting campaigns by reducing carbon footprints released in the environment.
“Bring about job creation as the production of the waterboxx will be done in one out of the 11 frontline states of the agency.
“Transfer of innovative solutions to other African countries; The potential to expand the initiative to other Pan- African countries of the Great Green Wall (PAGGW).”
He said the adoption of the waterboxx innovation by the NAGGW management shows the Agency’s seriousness in reforming the process of planting through innovations, technologies, and strategies that will ensure sustainability and competitiveness.
“Nigeria is the first Pan-African Agency for the Great Green Wall member country to adopt the innovation as policy as the country continues to lead the Pan-African Agency for the Great Green Wall and its agenda in Africa,” he added
