President Tinubu Flags Off Buni’s Multi-billion Naira Agricultural Empowerment Programme

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has launched the multi-billion-naira agricultural empowerment programme supplied by the Yobe State governor

Hon Mai Mala Buni for distribution to at least 5,340 farmers in the state.

The President represented by the Vice President Kashim Shettima has while launching the programme at the August 27th Stadium Damaturu, described governor Buni’s huge investment and intervention in the supply of thousands on farm implements including 100 tractors among others as against stride towards turning agriculture from subsistence farming to commercial or mechanized for food security in the country.

President Tinubu stated that a nation as diverse and vibrant as Nigeria, the provision of sufficient and nutritious food should be a fundamental priority that must be pursued with dedication and vigour across all ties of government for better results.

“The Yobe State Agricultural Empowerment Programme couldn’t have come at a better time. There is no way we are going to achieve our grand goals as a government whether at a state or national level until we support and empower our famers.

“We must ensure that they have the tools, resources and knowledge to optimize their production capacity. By doing so we not only enhance our agricultural output but also contribute to our collective quest to ensure that every Nigerian is well fed and fully engaged in the economic drive of our nation.

“Every intervention to boost agriculture plays a crucial role in the local economy. Initiatives like this enhance food security, offers new avenues for employment particularly for our youths and women who are the backbone of our rural community,” he said.

The president used the forum and commended the people of Yobe State for demonstrating strong resilience to reclaim their means of livelihood after encouraging improvement in the security situation across the state and the northeast sub region.

“This support by the Yobe State government will therefore make agriculture attractive and improve the farming population in the state to attain food security and economic prosperity.

“With the improvement in security in Yobe state and the north east generally, it is my hope that people will take the advantage of such interventions to move from subsistence farming to commercial agriculture.

“The establishment of four sesame seed processing factories in the state and the cargo airport to promote international trade in sesame seed, gum Arabic and livestock, I am more than confidence that this programme will enhance the production capacity of Yobe State and drives its partnership with the federal government, other states and corporate organizations to achieve the desired diversification.”

He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to modernising the agricultural sector, including the livestock industry.

The President said the recently approved Ministry of Livestock Development is intended “to improve livestock production in the country and to change the destiny and narratives of our livestock production.”

Governor Buni has while speaking said his administration decided to embark on the supply of the multi-billion naira farm implements with a view to boosting the agricultural production being the major occupation of the people of Yobe State.

He said, “In spite of all the challenges, agriculture remains the major preoccupation of our people. With the improvement in security across the state, farmlands are now accessible in almost all the local government areas.”

The governor who outlined some of the majors taken by his administration to rejuvenate agriculture which include an Agricultural Summit, constitution of a Steering Committee on Revitalization of Agriculture, and partnerships with organizations like the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation among others said the state government, in collaboration with the federal government, has established Livestock Development Centres to address farmer-herdsmen clashes and boost meat and dairy production.

He commended president Tinubu for the visit, describing it as a significant milestone towards boosting agriculture for food security.

Buni said the distribution arrangement was made based on 30 farmers in each of the 178 electoral wards of the state making a total of 5,340 farmers to benefit from the scheme.

“Except for the tractors and fertilizer, all the other agricultural equipment and inputs are to be given out free to our large-scale, medium, and subsistence farmers.”

He said that the tractors are to be in the custody of the State Agricultural Development Programme at the Headquarters in Damaturu andthe zonal offices in Buni Yadi, Geidam, Gashua, Nguru, and Potiskum, to be hired out to individuals and group farmers.

“The Agricultural Development Programme would be carefully monitored to ensure service efficiency, effective maintenance, and accountability in proceeds accruing from the hire of the tractors”.

The Governor warned the beneficiaries in strong terms that the government would not tolerate any act of sabotage to frustrate their commitments to make agriculture attractive, profitable, sustainable, and economically viable and to guarantee food sufficiency and food security in the state.

“Therefore, the government would deal ruthlessly with any official, individual, or group who tests our will in this regard. I hereby direct the security agencies to arrest and impound tractors and other machines crossing the border lines of the state, while such saboteurs are made to face the full wrath of the law.

“Let me use this opportunity to passionately appeal to the good people of Yobe State to take advantage of this laudable opportunity to embrace agriculture for us to cultivate and produce what we eat to ensure food security and economic development.

“You will recall the sad and unfortunate experiences we had in Yobe, Borno, and Adamawa states during the trying moments of adverse security challenges when our people could not access their farmlands as peace eluded this part of the country”.

“We know better what the absence of peace means. We have many sad stories to tell from our horrible experiences. We cannot afford to invite any other threat to peace and security. Therefore, we should jealously guard the peace we now enjoy and never be part of any plot to disturb our hard-earned peace.

“We must not create opportunities for our common enemies to take advantage of any form of protest to send us into another dark and horrible experience. Therefore, Yobe state is categorically saying NO to protests, and would not participate in any form of protest by whatsoever name,” the governor emphasized.

The items distributed include 100 Zoom Lion Tractors, 10 IMC Double Cabin 4-wheel drive vehicles for extension service supervision, 200 motorcycles for extension workers, 300 sets of ox-drawn ploughs, 5,349 small ruminants (goats), 1,349 hand-push planters, 889 hand-push plough machines, 590 hand-push tiller machines, 4,202 solar-powered irrigation water pumps, improved assorted seeds, and 72,000 bags of fertilizer.

The event was attended by the Chairman of Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State, APC Deputy National Chairman (North), Hon. Ali Bukar Dalori, APC Deputy National Chairman (South), Chief Emma Eneukwu, Senator Osita Izunaso, the Special Adviser on Political Affairs to the President, Alh. Ibrahim Masari, members of National and State Assembly, Traditional rulers among others.