ZHUL-QI’DA 23, 1429 A.H.
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 21, 2008
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Sokoto earmarks 300 hectares for gum Arabic plantation
From Abba Lawan Kurmawa, Sokoto
IN its effort to ensure that the state is put on a productive and sound economic footing, Sokoto state government has earmarked 300 hectares of farmland for its gum Arabic plantation project expected to produce a projected quantity of 3,000 tonnes at 10 tonnes per hectare, the state commissioner for environment, Alhaji Lawali M. Zayyana disclosed.
The gum Arabic plantation projects which cut across the three senatorial districts located at Marnona-Benide, Gidam Mallam and Kambama of Wurno, Tangaza and Shagari local governments respectively are expected to mature in the next two to three years for harvest.
Alhaji Zayyana disclosed in Sokoto yesterday while shedding more light at a media forum with journalists on the activities.
According to the commissioner, the project if successful would serve the needs of the country in commercial quantity and garner an appreciable proportion of revenue accruals to the state and Nigeria as a whole.
Zayyana explained that it would further assist against desertification experienced in the state, pointing out that " the issue of desertication is quite alarming and problematic against the safety of the environment.
``The ministry is set to check all environmental hazard related issues as wishful bush burning, felling of trees, pollution and general environmental hygiene. These have consequentil effect on both environmental and human health with adverse boomeranging effect on the general soci-economic development of the nation", Zayyana added.
He said there were three principal ways of overcoming the menace, by massive tree planting, encouraging the use of biofuel and discouraging deforestation via tree felling.
"This would not only fight disertification but also influence the problem of global warming. Biofuel is environmentally friendly compared to petrol", he added.
The environment commissioner who cited Sokoto state as a frontline location with tendecies of being affected by global warming, also maintained that the state government has began arrangement in collaboration with specialised consultant on how to evolve sustainable modalities in tackling the global phenomenon at the state level", saying, ``we are planning to control it as one of the frontline states prone to be affected by the geographical climate trend’’.
Zayyana also said the state government through the ministry of environment has planned to start the planting of medicinal trees as well as boost its afforestation programme reserves currently gazetted as 25, while stating that the state government is undertaking the establishment of a 2km roadside plantation along Sokoto-Wamakko and Dandin Mahe-Jaredi roads in additon to the effort being made for the establishment of Jatropa plantations in forest reserve areas for the provison of biofuel, checking dersert encroachment and replenishing the soil.
