Sokoto Begins Commercial Cultivation of Select Economic Trees

Sokoto state government said it has allocated lands for commercial cultivation of some important economic trees comprising Gum Arabic, Moringa, Dates and Shea tree.

Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal stated this on Wednesday when he flagged off the state’s annual tree planting campaign in Bodinga LGA.

“Studies have shown that some of these trees not only improve nutrition and boost food supply, they enhance economic condition of farmers especially in the rural areas and importantly bring in needed cash for sustainable development,” he said. Tambuwal said in addition to these benefits, cultivating the trees helps in sustaining care for land in particular and the environment in general. According to the governor, in allocating lands for the cultivation, government will also encourage individuals to take the lead and ensure that the benefit gets to as many people as possible.

“We’re opening up a new corridor in fighting poverty and unemployment. We will support our farmers with improved seeds and technical expertise to ensure the state derives maximum benefit from the venture. “Planting trees will stimulate agricultural integration policy in a sustainable way as such this new policy is anchored on providing healthy environment in our localities,” he added.

The governor said the state government is concerned about illegal encroachment of farmers into constituted forest reserves, a situation that has led to increase in farmers/herdsmen clashes.

He also warned government officials, community leaders and other individuals to desist from encroaching into reserves.

On the various policies introduced through the ministry of environment, Tambuwal vowed that everything possible will be done to ensure successes.

“We have signed an agreement with the World Bank under its NEWMAP project. We have already paid our N1 billion counterpart funding so we’re waiting for them for implementation to start,” he said.