By; SULAIMAN AHMED MISAU, Katsina
The Federal Government has established more than 190 kilometres shelter-belt plantation in Katsina State from 2013 to date.
Deputy Director, Department of Afforestation and Land Management of the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW), Mr Isah Sadiq stated this while briefing newsmen during his assessment visit of field investment in Katsina State.
He visited five local government areas in Katsina State, which include, Kaita, Mashi, Baure, Daura and Mai-Adua.
Mr. Sadiq said the essence of the visit was to showcase achievements made so far in the fight against land degradation and other environmental challenges in the state.
“The establishment of the shelter-belt will help to prevent desert encroachment, serve as wind breaker to the trees; reduce soil erosion provide habitation for wildlife and produce healthy crops. When you establish shelter-belt it will help the crops grow healthy and bring out good fruits as well,” he said.
According to him, Nigeria has eleven front line states and is one of the pioneer countries of GGW initiative due to challenges of land degradation, desertification and drought. pointing out that, the agency was established to prevent or reverse the degradation of ecosystem while improving the living conditions of affected communities by enhancing the provision of ecosystem services.
He said that the agency ensured that trees were planted during the rainy season between June and August to enable trees survive and look healthy. adding that, “we have already constructed boreholes for the communities, once the rainy season seizes the labourers will be using the boreholes to water the trees to keep them growing well.”
He said “We also planted orchards for the communities; the trees are mainly for economic purposes where the people can sell the fruits and use the money to support their families. and we always created a strong awareness to the communities by educating them on the importance of keeping the trees for sustainability.”
Mr Isah Sadiq said that, the agency planted more than 1,000 trees in the state in 2021 and was committed to ensuring that degradation was prevented in the affected communities. assuring that, the agency would continue to plant more trees to ensure that the issue of land degradation, afforestation and other environmental challenges were addressed effectively in the state.
However, Deputy Director, Field Office Coordinator of the organisation, Mrs Habiba Ibrahim said that the agency’s plan was to engage with the communities to educate them on importance of environmental protection.
Mrs Ibrahim urged community leaders to encourage people by educating them on the importance of reversing degradation by planting more trees and avoid activities that may lead to destruction of land.
Similarly, Field Officer of the Agency in Katsina state, Mr Tahir Ibrahim said the agency had engaged in training of most of the communities on various skills and equipped the participants with tools to help them get out of poverty.
According Mr Tahir Ibrahim NAGGW has also distributed solar panel energy systems and constructed boreholes in the communities for the sustainability of the trees.
Also speaking, one of the forest guards of the agency, Mr Mutaka Yusuf said the only challenge they faced sometimes was means of pumping water into the water tanks to wet the trees. adding that, “We cannot pump from the borehole because of lack of electricity and since this fuel scarcity started we cannot even buy fuel to use for our generator.”
Community Leader of Kayawa village, Kaita local government area, Mr Sani Iliyasu who spoke on behalf of the people in the area appreciated the agency for the gesture provided to them. promising that, the project would be protected and maintained.
