Desertification: Yobe Distributes High Resistance Seedlings

Yobe State Government
says it had distributed high resistance economic and non-economic seedlings that could withstand climatic conditions of the state to effectively combat desert encroachment.
The Commissioner for Environment in the state Alhaji Idi Gubana, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Damaturu.
According to him, the livelihood of 85 per cent of the state’s population depending on subsistence agriculture are being threatened by desert encroachment and drought.
He said the state government would reclaim and restore soil fertility on the 323-kilometres land lost to desert encroachment for viable agricultural production.
“Nigeria has 1,500 kilometres of land affected by desert encroachment in 11 frontline states sharing common boundaries with Niger republic; Yobe has the longest distance of 323km,” he said.  He said the state government was collaborating with the Federal Government on the “Great Green Wall” programme.
The commissioner said that local government areas and traditional institutions had been fully involved in tree planting campaign and the fight against desertification.
“The state government has in collaboration with Federal Government and the other 10 frontline states  embarked on a “Great Green Wall” programme to establish shelterbelts to check desert encroachment.
“The shelterbelts will check the effects of  wind and erosion and also halt encroachment of desert from moving further inwards,” he said.
Gubana said the state government had already established 28km of shelterbelts  and constructed two boreholes in each of the six local government areas to ensure adequate water supply for the trees.
The commissioner assured that the ministry would assist and partner with organisations, institutions and communities for effective fight against desert encroachment.