By Hamidu Sabo Katsina
Katsina state government has released the sum of N10 million for nursing 900,000 trees for planting this year in its eff ort to prevent erosion in the state. Th e Deputy Governor, Qs Mannir Yakubu, disclosed yesterday while inspecting some of the nursing farms. According to him, the administration of Aminu Bello Masari has already provided adequate seeds and all the necessary tools for the plantation. Yakubu, who is also the Commissioner for Agriculture, stated that 10 local government areas were selected for the pilot programme of the plantation, adding that 10 diff erent types of trees were equally planted across the selected farms.
He said seven out of the ten diff erent types of trees were economic trees that included moringa, cashew, gum Arabic, Jatropha, Aegyptiaia, neem and nylotica, while the remaining trees were normal one for wood load. Yakubu said the state would achieve much from the plantation, most especially in the area of erosion control, wood load and desertifi cation. He said some of the trees have reached advance stage for plantation in the selected farms, most especially the 150,000 planted in Kabakawa farm, 100,000 in Shargalle, Daura, Malumfashi, respectively.
Th e Agric Commissioner however sanctioned the offi cer in charge of Dutsin-ma farm centre, Alhaji Sani Lawal Daura, for neglecting his duty at the nursing centre. While warning him for nonperformance, the commissioner said the “present administration will not tolerate any attitude of wasting the state funds, adding any forestry offi cer catch neglecting his duty will not go free.”
