Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno says that the state is working towards attaining food sufficiency and the export of cash crops and other agricultural products.
Zulum made this known during a visit to Koiri Irrigation Farm, one of the pilot drip irrigation schemes of his administration.
“Let’s carefully put things in order. Borno State will start exporting sesame and other cash crops in the near future,” a statement from Government House Media Unit quoted Zulum saying during the visit.
Koiri scheme, covering about 20 hectares of land, aims to produce 364 tons of maize and sesame in one crop cycle out of the three cycles expected each year with a total expectation of 1,092 tons annually.
Zulum said that his administration would focus on investing in irrigation agriculture to maximize food production in the state.
“We will subsequently change focus and invest our resources in irrigation farming or, rather, food production. I assure you that we will provide the political will needed to achieve food sufficiency,” Zulum said.
The governor, however, ordered the expansion of the scheme to 300 hectares, with 100 hectares to be cultivated in each senatorial zone.
“We need to expand our scope. We should identify bigger land; we can expand with another 100 hectares each in Borno Central, South and North.
“My predecessor has procured about 10,000 hectares of drip irrigation kits. After this year’s rainy season, we hope the state will be able to cultivate at least 1000 hectares,” Zulum said.
The Governor was accompanied on the visit by the Secretary to the State Government, Hon. Bukar Tijjani, Commissioners for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Bawu Musami, that of Information and Internal Security, Prof. Usman Tar, and members of the agric transformation team among others.
