In its bid to ensure sustainable food production and food security in the country, the Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, has laid a foundation for the smooth take-off of all the relevant state agricultural programmes.
The state Commissioner for Agriculture, Muhammad Dili, in a chat with newsmen in Maiduguri the state capital, said the state government had in the past two years trained over 100 youths in various agricultural skills, with a view to boosting employment opportunities among the teeming unemployed youths.
Dili disclosed that the state government had equally imported about 500 rice mills from Thailand as part of its efforts to boost rice production in the state.
According to him, the mills would be distributed to farmers’ cooperative associations to improve the quality of local rice production in the state.
He further explained that the government had also purchased about 1,000 tractors that would be distributed to peasant farmers across the 27 local government areas in the state.
“Plans are underway to provide appropriate infrastructure to enhance fish production in the state. The state government will also build about 40 artificial dams in 50 communities across the 27 local government areas to boost fishing activities.
“We are geared towards promoting sustainable food production, providing technical and social support to the farming communities in order to improve their living standards,” he said.
Dili noted that some of the communities to benefit from the state government’s programmes will include: Bama, Baga, Damboa, Kwaya Kusar, Minor, Minoc, Benishaik, Jakana, Magumeri, Auno and Kala Balge to mention but a few.
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