Yobe launches tree planting campaign to enhance agriculture

The Yobe State Government has launched tree planting campaign in the 17 local government areas of the state to combat environmental degradation and desertification and to reclaim soil fertility to enhance agricultural production.

The state Deputy Abubakar D Ali, Governor, who is the Chairman the state Environmental Protection Committee, stated this while lunching the programme in Damaturu and Yunusari local councils yesterday.

The deputy governor who was represented by the Commissioner of Environment, said the increased pressure on land for farming, indiscriminate felling of trees and illegal mining of had impacted negatively on the environment.

“Desert encroachment, land degradation, and siltation of rivers had retarded agricultural activities with negative effect of promoting poverty in the communities. We have embarked on massive planting and nurturing of trees to protect the environment against wind storms, improve soil fertility and provide shelter for human and animals,” he said, adding that the government had charged traditional rulers, local government councils and the communities to step up action on tree planting to save the environment.

“Massive sensitization campaign has bee carried out across the 14 emirates in the 17 local government areas,” he said.