Desert Control: Agency To Distribute 5m Date Seedlings To 11 States
By: Ahmed Aminu, Dutse
The National Agency for the Great Green Wall is procuring 5 million Date seedlings for distribution across the 11 desert frontier states in the country.
The Director General of the Agency, Alhaji Sale Abubakar said the seedlings will be planted for commercial purposes and as buffer against desert encroachment.
The Director General made this known when he paid a courtesy visit to the Emir of Dutse in Jigawa State, Alhaji Muhammad Hameem Nuhu, in his palace.
He said that the agency has sealed a deal with Suleiman Farms and Agro-Allied Company for the production of the 5 million Date plant seedlings.
According to him, the agency’s delegation was in Jigawa state to inspect the seedlings, before finally collecting and distributing them to the benefiting states.
“Dutse has excelled in date production. We have realised that 20 of the date seedlings can generate about N12 million annually when the seedlings begin bearing fruits in the next few years,” Alhaji Sale said.
The director general said that the five million seedlings if properly raised, can generate up to N300 billion in sales of date fruits.
“The five million date seedlings will be distributed to 11 selected states to boost commercial date production in which the country’s income generation can increase significantly as well as make the nation to become a great exporter of dates,” Alhaji Saleh said.
In his remarks, the Emir applauded the Agency for exploring the potentials of Jigawa state, and called on other relevant agencies in the country, to come to Jigawa for proper utilization of its vast resources, especially in the field of agriculture.
He recalled that his father, late Emir Muhammadu Sanusi, was passionate about exploring new techniques on date farming, and had at a time despatched delegations to Morocco, to adopt new ideas.
Alhaji Hameem pledged support for the agency and other bodies coming to explore the potentials of Jigawa state for the benefit of the country.
Also speaking, the Chairman of Sulaiman Farms and Agro-Allied Company Limited,, Alhaji Bashir Aminu, who holds thetraditional title of Dan Amar Dutse, said Jigawa state has about 150 species of dates.
He assured that the company would meet the requirements of the agency, and others wishing to patronise them.
