The Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project has given out 6,220 bags of drought-resistant seeds to farmers in Gombe State. This is part of their effort to support farming that can withstand changing weather conditions.
The seeds were distributed during the start of a five-day meeting organized by ACReSAL’s Federal Project Management Unit in Gombe.
This meeting focused on the Gali-Lamurde and Hawal-Kilunga river basins. It is part of a bigger national plan to create 20 special land and water management strategies across Nigeria.
At the event, ACReSAL’s National Project Coordinator, Dr. Abdulhamid Umar, spoke about the urgent need to stop environmental damage in the Northeast and other risky areas. He said helping communities near rivers is a key part of ACReSAL’s work.
Also speaking, Gombe State’s ACReSAL Coordinator, Dr. Sani Adamu Jauro, said the state is fully committed to solving serious environmental problems. He praised Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya for creating a good environment that allows important projects like ACReSAL to succeed.
Governor Yahaya, who was represented by the Commissioner for Water, Environment, and Forest Resources, Mohammed Saidu Fawu, said the meeting came at the right time and fits well with the state’s environmental plans.
He talked about big projects like “Gombe Goes Green” (3G), which has led to planting over five million trees in the last five years, and efforts to restore the Balanga Dam to help improve food supply. These efforts support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He added that Gombe State is strongly supporting the Federal Government’s goal of restoring four million hectares of damaged land by 2030. He thanked the Federal Ministry of Environment, ACReSAL leaders, and the World Bank for their help and support.
The seeds given to farmers by ACReSAL included rice, maize, millet, and guinea corn. These are special types that can grow even in tough weather conditions.
