Borno state government has sent 50 of its farmers on a train the trainee course on irrigation equipment installation, usage and maintenance in India.
Addressing the young beneficiaries during a send forth ceremony at Efupo Farm, Kuje, Abuja at the weekend, Governor Kashim Shettima said the programme was part of his government economic approach so as to deter the upcoming youth from been induced by economic consideration to be recruited into the sect.
He advocated for a combination of military, political and economic approaches in the ongoing fight against Boko Haram as part of multidimensional strategy to keep the youths in check. He charged them to respect the custom of their host community.
The training to be conducted by Jain Irrigation Company of India is part of the MoU signed with the state on supply, installation and capacity building.
He said units of irrigation equipment are currently being installed across the state by a U.S based irrigation company and the Jain Irrigation Company of India adding that his government plans to use Borno’s versed land to create jobs through massive agriculture with the sole aim of discouraging Boko Haram recruits who are driven by joblessness.
“What we are doing is adopting a holistic approach toward solving this book haram insurgency. You cannot fight poverty in words but in action, so by empowering the people, we can empower the nation and our target is that in the next two, three years, we want Borno to feed the nation and we cannot feed the nation by subsistent agriculture we have to implore modern agricultural practices. The whole mantra is on yields in agriculture.
“In Israel, they produce 55 tons of tomatoes per hectares while in Nigeria we produce two to five tons per hectare. In Spain, they are producing 50 tons of groundnuts per hectare while here we barely scratch two tons per hectare. So the whole target is on increase in yield and without investment in technology, modern agricultural practices, improved seeds, we can’t reach the promised land,” he said.