Yobe in ‘trade by barter’ to fly over desertification

Between 1968 and 1973 many northern states of Nigeria including Borno and Yobe suffered the Great Draught which affected food supply, a development which prompted the formation of many initiatives to surmount the threat. In 1990, the European Union (EU), the Federal Government of Nigeria and the then Borno State government established the North East […]

Between 1968 and 1973 many northern states of Nigeria including Borno and Yobe suffered the Great Draught which affected food supply, a development which prompted the formation of many initiatives to surmount the threat.

In 1990, the European Union (EU), the Federal Government of Nigeria and the then Borno State government established the North East Arid Zone Development Programme (NEADZP) with headquarters in Garin Alkali, Bade Local government Area of Yobe State. The programme was aimed at promoting and assisting the rural populace in the proper use of their natural resources which covers an area of 22,860 sq km.

After recording significant progress in the areas of small irrigation packages, animal fattening programmes, small ruminant breeding, sand dunes fixation, shelterbelt, village protection, conservation of rain water at strategic places for livestock rearing and distribution of seedlings in the affected communities, the EU withdrew its support in 1995 and the federal government followed suit in 2006.

Before they left, the Mid Term review Report of 1994 had rated NEAZDP activities as the most successful rural development programme in Nigeria while the ESPO Evaluation by the EU in 2006 equally revealed that NEAZDP was the only programme that had structures and sound extension system after the departure of its initiators.

Though the EU and the FG had established a solid base for enduring development, their withdrawal had posed a great challenge towards the sustenance of the programme because only skeletal services were being offered.

It was indeed a terrible experience because shortly thereafter, the Yobe River’s recession began to hit hard on the riverine communities. This was coupled with typher grass manifestation and poor harvest of food and cash crops as a fall out of low rainfall.   

However, in 2008, the Yobe State government reactivated the programme, approved many projects which would be captured in the 2009 budget and restored partnership with frontline local government areas including Bade, Jakusko, Machina, Karasuwa, Gaidam, Nguru, Bursari, Yunusari and Yusufari.

The state government then gave the NEAZDP N27 million for the establishment of strategic grain banks in each of the nine LGAs and for purchase of Ox-team loan package. The government equally gave a standing order for the release of N9 million every month.

According to Dr Hussaini K. Hassan, the NEAZDP Programme Manager, “the plan is that in the first phase of the project, we would empower the farmers with cash loan and working tools including bulls that would be working on farm. But instead of the farmers to pay the loan in cash, we advised them that they would be paying back with their farm produce which we feel would protect them from the excesses of middle men and fallen prices.”

In May 2009, Governor Ibrahim Gaidam launched the reactivated NEAZDP projects which included the procurement of 270 metric tonnes of millet and 90 sets of Ox-team loan package to 90 beneficiaries selected from the nine local government areas.

“The package consists of a cultivator, a ridger and ox-cart and the farmers were given N80,000 to purchase two work bulls,” Dr Hussaini said.

He said after the harvest of produce, the farmers were expected to pay back the loan in kind by bringing 10 bags of millet annually for the period of three years at the cost of N4,000 per bag.

“This approach will give the farmer a profit margin of N1, 000 when compared with the market price at the time of harvest”, he added.

He said the grains would then be stored at the NEAZDP strategic grains bank and then would be sold to the people at subsidize prices when such prices skyrocketed at the open market.

The governor also distributed 720 units of primary school furniture as well as drugs for dispensaries situated in the frontline local government areas.

The second phase of the programme was launched on January 28th this year when Governor Gaidam invited the Minister of Environment Mr John Odeh to come and see for himself, what the state government was doing in order to sustain the programme that was originally introduced by the federal government and EU.

The programme manager, Dr Hussaini said the sum of N120 million was approved by the government which was used for the rehabilitation of the project headquarters, overhaul of working equipment including tractor, vehicles and generators among others.

According to him, “we have also constructed 500 metric tons (5,000 bags) capacity grain reserve which is now stocked with 3,000 bags of millet realised from our 2009 loan recovery in kind plus revolving grain reserve”.

He said NEAZDP’s anticipated loan recovery will be 8,964 by 2011 adding that a 10,000 capacity Post Fingerling Integrated Fish Pond was constructed.

He said that in the second phase of the project, a total of 120 sets of ox-team loan package consisting of 120 ridgers, 120 cultivators and 120 ox-carts were fabricated.

At the occasion, the facilities were given to 120 farmers along with N100,000 for them to buy work bulls as component of the loan package.

48 year old Mohammed Ajiri who was one of the beneficiaries said the arrangement, if sustained by the government would address the problem of food shortages and unemployment.

He said many people loved farming but could not sustain it because of lack of capital which would encourage them to go into commercial agriculture. “But with this initiative whereby we are expected to pay in kind, all of us here would take advantage of the opportunity.”

After distributing the loan package to the beneficiaries who were selected from the nine frontline LGAs, Governor Gaidam and the minister of environment thereafter supervised the irrigation scheme and a half hectare woodlot pilot project established in the NEAZDP.

In his speech, Governor Gaidam said the programme would be sustained but urged the benefitting communities to respect the terms of agreement by paying back the loan in kind so that other farmers could benefit.

Mr Odeh on the other hand said states in the arid region must stop lamenting their challenges but should always think of exploiting the numerous opportunities available in the areas. “We believe that if exploited, the opportunities will be critical for job creation, income generation and food security,” he said.

He said the federal government had earmarked N400m for the control of environmental problems in Yobe State and lauded the state government’s commitment for sustaining the NEAZDP project.

Amidst the programme however, the Nigerian Metrological Agency predicted that this year, the northeast region which Yobe is part of, may witness short rainfall, it is hoped that notwithstanding such prediction, the programme would enhance food production that may assist towards achieving food security in Yobe.