Agriculture accounts for 80 percent of employment opportunities in Yobe, says Gov. Buni

By: Yahaya Wakili

Agriculture is the mainstay of the Yobe state economy, which employs 80% of our people, and it plays a key role in women and youth empowerment, employment generation, and poverty alleviation, among others.

Governor Mai Mala Buni CON disclosed this to newsmen in Damaturu when he celebrated his five years in office.

He said that when we came on board, we realized that the sector was largely characterized by traditional practices of subsistence farming.

“This therefore propelled us to organize an agricultural summit in 2019 to chart a course for agricultural transformation to enhance food sufficiency and food security and to make agriculture more profitable” he said.

Buni further revealed that the outcome of the summit culminated in the formation of a steering committee on the revitalization of agriculture, which, in conjunction with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, developed the state sector strategic plan.

“In realization of this, the government procured 7500 metric tons (250 tracks) of NPK fertilizer for the 2019/2020 cropping season and sold it to farmers at a highly subsidized price of $5,000 per bag, and the government has now placed emphasis on the dry-season cultivation of crops to further boost production for the attainment of food security in the state.

In addition, the government also procured 1500 metric tons (50 trucks) of NPK fertilizer to support 2022–2023 irrigation farming in the state, and these fertilizers have since been distributed and sold at a subsidized rate of $13,000 per bag through open market sales to the general public.

Buni said, through a public-private partnership, the government procured 1,500 metric tons of Neem-coated NPK fertilizer to support rain-fed crop production for the 2023 farming season. Under this arrangement, a company supplied the fertilizer at a cost of $25,000 per bag, while the government, on its part, sold the fertilizer to farmers at a rate of $13,000 per bag.

According to him, Yobe State Government and the Federal Government have agreed on mutual collaboration to establish Livestock Development Centers (LDC) in the three Senatorial Districts in the state in phases, starting with Jakusko/Nasari LDC (Zone C) in 2021/2022. Gurjaji LDC (Zone B) in 2022/2023, and Bade Gana LDC (Zone A) in 2023/2024.

“These products consist of the following facilities: Veterinary and Human Clinics, Milk Center and Milking Parlor, Artificial Insemination Unit and Small Ruminant Multiplication Unit, 50 units of Hardsmen’s Settlement, Feed Mill and Feedlot (5 Nos.), Earth Dams and Aquaculture Administrative Block, Security Outpost, Primary School, Tractors, and Planters 

Others include harvesters, lawn mowers, ambulatory vehicles, the renovation of loading ramps and pastures, the construction of a wherehouse, the construction of a 6.0-kilometer access road, and the provision of electricity.

Agriculture accounts for 80 percent of employment opportunities in Yobe, says Gov. Buni