An Agronomist, Dr Ilyasu Gital, has advocated for zero-tillage agriculture to conserve soil, prevent desertification and increase yield per unit area of land.
Gital appealed in an interview on Monday in Bauchi.
June 17 is a day set aside to mark the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought annually.
The day is also set aside to raise awareness of desertification and drought and promote solutions to curb the challenges.
For 2024, the theme for the day is: “United for Land. Our Legacy. Our Future.”
The theme highlights the importance of collective actions to preserve the planet’s land resources for future generations.
Gital said that the theme for this year’s World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought was well articulated and addressed current deficiencies.
“A united call to action against desertification and drought is the only solution to these problems.
“Deforestation and land degradation are the major areas where farmers contribute to drought and desertification.
“Our plea is to urge farmers to stop these ugly practices that harm the environment,” he said.
On his part, the Bauchi State Project Coordinator, Agro Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscape (ACReSAL), Dr Ibrahim Kabir said that Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) was achievable.
Kabir stressed that LDN was achievable through problem-solving, strong community involvement and cooperation at all levels.
According to him, desertification and drought are among the key environmental challenges the world faces today, particularly in semi-arid zones.
“The Northern part of Nigeria suffers more from desertification and drought than other parts of the country,” he said.
Kabir added that the ACReSAL Project was determined to increase awareness and promote actions to restore degraded lands.
“We are also keen to improve resilience to drought, and highlight the future role of land stewardship in ensuring the stability and prosperity of millions of people in Nigeria,” he said.
