You don hear am? Gombe State dey vibing as dem dey transform agriculture and community better life with ACReSAL initiative! Wetin be ACReSAL? Na Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes Project wey World Bank dey support. Dem don distribute over N223 million as interest-free loans to 10 Community Interest Groups, and this one no be small matter o!
Dr Sani Jauro, wey be Gombe State Coordinator for the project, come dey talk to media people about how the initiative don dey bring beta change for agriculture, water resources, and environment management. He talk say dem don do three years of ACReSAL and gree say dem dey see ‘structured transformation’ wey dey push the community forward.
According to Jauro, na nearly 90% of the people wey collect this loan don invest for agriculture-related business, and as a result, about 1,979 jobs don burst out! Na wah oo! Wetin dem dey do be say the loans be like wheel wey dey turn; as dem dey pay back, another person go chop the same loan and start im own business.
But no stop there, o! E still talk say state don jom jom in tractor mechanization. Dem get 12 modern tractors wey dem distribute across 11 local government areas. He talk say wetin go take person three weeks for manual labour, now e fit finish am sharp sharp. This one dey important because of climate change wey dey cause wahala for agricultural planning.
And guess wetin? They don even distribute over 3,700 kilograms of drought-resistant seeds to over 55 farmer clusters! Na Gombe we dey talk about o! This seeds go help farmers catch better harvest even when rain no dey follow standard pattern, my people.
Jauro also drop another bombshell about Balanga Dam canal wey don dey under rehabilitation since the time of former President Babangida. This canal get capacity to support over 11,000 acres for agriculture all year round. When dem finish work, many farmers go smile well well!
Another waka wey no fit miss be the recycling plant wey don land. Na to turn plastic waste to organic fertilizer so that our soil go dey healthy. Jauro don co-sign say too much chemical fertilizer dey spoil soil over time. Na beta initiative dem get now!
No be only agriculture, o! Under water scheme, dem don drill about 250 boreholes and tube wells for several areas to support irrigation farming. Plus, dem don help 450 households with 4,000-litre rainwater harvesting tanks to reduce erosion wahala.
Jauro dey assure say dem dey transform one old structure near Dadin Kowa Dam to modern farm centre, wey go serve as knowledge hub where farmers fit gather learn from extension specialists.
He mention say dem don prepare draft bill to establish Gombe State Integrated Landscape Management Agency wey go continue to maintain the good work when ACReSAL end. This one mean say better things dey come for Gombe farmers!
As dem don finish three years of six-year implementation, Jauro dey tell everybody say dem go do midterm review for March. E believe say this project dey lay solid foundation for future. Na so we see say with proper planning and investment, Gombe go dey reap better rewards in agriculture.
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