Agriculture:

As part of an effort to boost agricultural production, the Yobe State Government has assured to strengthen its partnership with the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO).

Governor Mai Mala Buni said this when he received the Head of office North East, FAO, Mr Alhassan Sise, at the Government House Damaturu.

Buni, represented by his deputy, Hon. Idi Barde Gubana, said as an agrarian state where over 90% of its population engage in farming activities, the government would redouble efforts in accelerated support to the farmers.

The governor said collaborating with the FAO would boost production and create more employment opportunities for the people across the state.

“Yobe State is a fully agrarian state and is only agriculture that provides employment opportunities to over 90% of the population.

“As you rightly said, the insurgency for the past one decade has greatly devastated agricultural production in the state of Yobe and as such many people depend on livelihood and humanitarian support, which should not be encouraged.”

He commended the FAO for improving seeds and irrigation support geared towards encouraging self-reliance among the people, especially youth across the state.

The Head of Office North- East, FAO, Mr Alhassan Sise said they had been initiating programmes such as Crop Production, Aqua Culture, poultry production, Livestock, Climate Change, irrigation among others in the North East since 2016.

Sise said FAO had recently visited the Yobe State College of Agriculture, Science and Technology Gujba to see how to collaborate on the production of organic fertilizer for the benefit of people across the state.

He commended the Yobe State Government for its support to the organization at all times.