Governor Buni’s Push For Yobe Agricultural Economy Revolution; By Mamman Mohammed

Governor Buni’s Push For Yobe Agricultural Economy Revolution; By Mamman Mohammed

“If agriculture goes wrong, nothing else will have a chance to go right” -M.S. Swaminathan

In Yobe state, it is a birth of a new revolution in the agricultural sector to ensure food sufficiency for food security and drive the economy for empowerment and growth. It is a paradigm shift laced with passion, conviction and political will to inject efficiency in the agricultural enterprise.

The recent investments by the state government in the sector provides the opportunity to launch a major comeback to improve agricultural productivity after years of inaccessibility to the farms, poor yields and systemic inefficiency.

The state Governor, Mai Mala Buni CON, said “In Yobe state, there is either a crop farmer, a livestock farmer or both in every household and, in spite the challenges, agriculture remains the major preoccupation of the people. It is undoubtedly the most potent sector for economic drive, and the most efficient sector for the post-insurgency economic recovery programme”.

With the improvement in security, where farmers can now access their farmlands across the state, the Yobe state government took the leading role of the driving force to actualise its dream in the agricultural sector. To demonstrate its political will, the state government under Governor Buni convened the first ever Agricultural Summit engaging agricultural experts, small, medium and large scale farmers to chart a new and realistically operational course for improvement in agricultural productivity in the state. This is in line with the adage that says, “knowledge shared is knowledge squared”.

This summit was immediately followed by the constitution of a Steering Committee on Revitalization of Agriculture, and the development of a State Sector Strategic Plan in conjunction with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, as well as the development of an agricultural policy document to achieve food security and contribute to National economic diversification. The document has been validated in collaboration with EU-Yobe Public Finance Management (PFM) Project, in conjunction with DAI international. The project came with depth, pluralism for excellence and all the necessary safeguards against multiplier effects of inefficiency that have been the bane of efficiency and profitability of agriculture.

In its efforts to make agriculture profitable and attractive especially among the youth who are the most productive percentage of the state’s population, a deliberate and well tailored agricultural Empowerment Programme was launched to attract more people into the farming population.

The launch of the massive agricultural intervention by the Buni administration was quite a breathtaking event. Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, who was represented by the Vice President Kashim Shettima GCON, was visibly delighted with the array of machines displayed for distribution to potential beneficiaries. The multi Billion Naira machineries include 100 Zoom Lion Tractors, 300 sets of Ox-drawn ploughs, 72,000 bags of fertilizer, 1,000 threshers, 5,349 small ruminants (goats) for women livestock farmers, 1,349 hand push planters, 889 hand-push plough machines, 590 hand-push tiller machines, 4,202 solar-powered irrigation water pumps, over 1,000 harvester, improved assorted seeds and 10 IMC Double Cabin 4 wheel drive vehicles for supervision of extension service workers, 200 motor cycles to extension service workers to boost agricultural extension services across the state.

Governor Buni explained that the mega agricultural empowerment programme was intended to turn around the face of agriculture in the state in which 30 farmers from each of the 178 electoral wards of the State were selected for the scheme. He directed free distribution of all the agricultural equipment and inputs to small, medium and large scale farmers across the state “these efforts we believe will augment large scale agro-value chain development in the State”.

To ensure fair, even and equitable distribution, the equipment were distributed to farmers in their respective local government councils supervised by stakeholders in each of the 17 local councils, with every beneficiary cleared by village and ward leaders.

Alhamdulillah, at the end of the rainy season, the harvests were bountiful. Food and cash crops were massively harvested and the farmers celebrated the sweat of their labour, ably assisted by the introduction of the new machines and other inputs provided by the government.

The increasing demand for Sesame seeds attracted many people into the cultivation of the seeds. Many farmers abandoned food crop production for the cultivation of Sesame seeds because of its high demand and high financial value in the markets and letting communities in the desert prone areas to try their luck and eventually got their fair share of the “golden seeds”.

Grain Merchants especially from the popular Dawano market in Kano continue to throng the state, pursuing farmers to their farmlands and offering mouth watering prices to buy off the Sesame seed farms before they are harvested. While medium and large scale Sesame seeds farmers hire security to guard their unharvested farms, the small scale farmers hurriedly harvested the farms in fear of unwanted guests who may harvest the farms overnight. .

To improve the trade in the commodity, the Yobe state government established four Sesame Seeds processing factories in Damaturu, Nguru, Machina and Potiskum to process and package the seeds to meet international standards and demand. While two have been completed, two are nearing completion. Through this system of post harvest value addition, greater heights of competitiveness and profitability are attained thereby exposing the Yobe produce to the global markets.

Similarly, by the end of 2024, farmers in the state recorded a massive harvest of Millet and Sorghum being the staple food of the people. Additionally, the new revolution saw the introduction of maize, potato and vegetables that were hitherto assumed as not suitable for cultivation in the arid zones are now produced in large quantities.

Ali Usman, a farmer who tried cultivation of maize last year said, “I was guided by an extension officer who came around to guide me and it has been successful. I am already into irrigation using the solar powered irrigation water pumps l benefitted from the government, and the farm is looking very promising”.

“I sold part of my harvests to fund the irrigation without borrowing a kobo from anyone and, l am optimistic about the anticipated harvests from the irrigation” he said.

Mustapha Kolo said he expanded his farm at Murfa Kalam using the planter, harvester and improved seeds he benefited from the government. “I am no longer scared of retirement because l have something to do. In fact, if l had been supported with these agricultural machines before now, l would have retired earlier because farming is now more lucrative than what we had in the past. The people of Yobe state cannot thank Governor Mai Mala Buni enough as he has redefined agriculture in Yobe state.

Musa Gulani, a GL16 officer in Damaturu the state capital who is retiring this year, said he is migrating from Damaturu to Gulani to be fully engaged in agriculture. “Apart from the food security and economic growth propelled by the Buni agricultural empowerment scheme, there is an additional advantage of checking rural to urban migration. People are willing to relocate to their rural communities to engage in agriculture. Many thanks to Governor Buni who has helped us to define our lives”.

There is no doubt, in Yobe state today, many civil servants of different Cadre have embraced agriculture to support their lives. The 2000 hectares Lava Irrigation Scheme in Bursari Local Government Area would boost production of wheat, rice and vegetables to further boost food sufficiency and also for exports as the weekly markets continue to host grain merchants from across the country.

Six months after the launch of the agricultural empowerment programme, the Buni administration launched another 40 brand-new Massey Ferguson tractors to further support more farmers and propel agricultural production across the state.

According to Buni, it is in continuation of the strategic and comprehensive strategy to ensuring food security and sufficiency of the government saying, “with the huge human capital abound in the state and massive arable land and water resources, we should be able to meet our food needs and we are determined to achieve this target.

“Government is also committed to take advantage of the agricultural potentials in the state to drive economic growth. Strategies have been mapped out to make good use of these machineries for maximum benefits. We should therefore guard against abuse” Buni cautioned..

Meanwhile, the award of contracts for the rehabilitation of the Agricultural Devel­opment Programme Headquarters in Damaturu and the five Zonal Offices in Buni-Yadi, Geidam, Gashua, Nguru and Potiskum would further revitalise effective and more accessible extension services to farmers for a maximum exploitation of the agricultural value chain in the sector.

According to the Food And Agricultural Organization (FAO) report, Yobe is a leading state in livestock production. Business activities at the Potiskum, Buni Yadi, and Geidam livestock markets are indeed glowing evidence to the FAO claim. The trade in these markets is of international status attracting marketers from Niger, Chad, Cameroon, Ghana and Central Africa among others.

Yobe became the first state at the sub-national level to create the Ministry of Livestock Development. Prior to now, the Yobe state Pilot Livestock Development Programme, had over the years boosted livestock development services and ensured healthy livestock are produced for consumption of healthy beef and dairy.

Mustapha Abba Geidam, a Veterinary Medical Doctor, a serving Permanent Secretary and former Programme Manager of the Yobe State Pilot Livestock Development Programme, said, an average of Seven Million livestock are vaccinated yearly against Trans-Boundary Animal Diseases to safeguard the health of both the livestock and consumers of beef and dairy. “This is carried out to meet the International Epizootics Organisation standards for livestock from the state to qualify full participation in international livestock marketing and trade” he added.

The state branch of the Veterinary Medical Doctors Association has this to say “Today, Animal Healthcare Workforce in Yobe State is second to none in Nigeria, with over 150 Veterinary Doctors in the State service, out of which 40% are specialists, with five consultants as FCVSN in various fields such as microbiology, preventive medicine, and public health, all sponsored and employed by Yobe State Government.

“To check Transboundary Animal Diseases (TADs), Governor Buni sustains annual launch of Anthrax Vaccination in the state providing thousands vials of Anthrax Spore Vaccine (ASV) with logistics support” the branch corroborated.

The state government In collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, is developing three livestock development centers in Nazari, Gurjaje and Badegana Livestock Centers.

Little wonder why the National body of the Veterinary Medical Association last year presented Governor Buni with an award of Excellence for investing in livestock health and development.

There is great anticipation that the new ministry of livestock development would facilitate the government’s efforts in providing free veterinary services, regular vaccination campaigns, and comprehensive disease control measures to enhance livestock productivity.

Similarly livestock farmers said the support by the state government in providing them with designated grazing reserves, livestock feeds, water points and veterinary services has encouraged them to develop livestock production across the state.

Alhaji Mohammad Bello Khaliel, National Chairman of Kullen Allah cattle Rearers Association of Nigeria, said “the numerous approaches taken by the Buni administration to support livestock farmers in Yobe state remains exceptional. We are confident the new Ministry of Livestock Development would look into the problem of trespass into cattle routes which has been the major cause of conflicts between farmers and graziers. Once this is done, l assure you the problem is solved”.

The construction of inter town and township road networks, and the readiness of the Damaturu cargo airport would no doubt facilitate transportation of farm produce from the hinterlands to the towns and the airport for local use and exports attracting foreign exchange for the country.

For the Sesame seeds, cowpea, groundnuts, rice and livestock farmers, it is a new dawn. It is a new opportunity to rediscover Yobe state’s hidden treasure in the agricultural economy. It is a chance for economic growth and prosperity.

The gentleman governor, Mai Mala Buni, is certainly in love with the philosophy of being futuristic in thinking and approach. The maxim that says “The best way to predict the future is to create it” is now seen and felt in the state with agribusiness becoming the centerpiece of that future. – Mamman is the Director-General Press and Media Affairs to the Governor