The National Land Development Authority (NALDA) in partnership with the Borno state government has graduated 269 soil doctors and agricultural extension workers. The doctors and agricultural extension service workers were trained under the National Young Farmers Scheme (NYFS) in the state. While presenting graduates with certificates Thursday, the Senate President, Sen. Ahmed Lawan, who represented President Muhammadu Buhari in Maiduguri, the state capital, commended Governor Babagana Zulum for effective working relationship with federal government agencies to ensure national food security and full employment. He noted that despite over a decade long Boko Haram insurgency, Zulum stands tall among his colleagues in providing good governance and accountability to the people. According to him, about 1000 youth are expected to benefit from training, which will be conducted in five batches of 200 trainees. Governor Zulum also reiterated the need for the training of more agricultural extension service workers, as the state has 70 percent of arable land to boost the agricultural sector. He also commended his predecessor, Sen. Kashim Shettima for procuring agricultural machineries, including 1,000 tractors and over a dozen combined harvesters.
His words: “The graduated 269 soil workers and agricultural extension workers will revolutionize agricultural activities for increased productivity and farmers’ incomes. “I acknowledged the tremendous effort put in place by the Executive Secretary of NALDA for the scheme to take off.” NALDA’s Executive Secretary, Mr. Paul Ikonne, said that Zulum is one of the proactive Governors that provided an enabling environment for the Young Farmers Scheme to take off. Meanwhile, the Director-General of the National Youth Service Corp, Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim expressed appreciation for Zulum’s support to Corp members’ serving in Borno state. According to him, Zulum has released over N400m for the welfare of corps members posted to Borno. Animal Resources and Fisheries Development Commissioner, Juliana Bitrus disclosed that the Governor approved the release of all counterpart funds as well as stipends to 269 first batch graduates. Other approvals made by the Governor include the allocation of over 15 hectares of land for the Young Farmers Scheme to operate in 40 locations across the state. On scheme’s implementation, she said: “Two thousand unemployed youths are being trained on fish farming under the Young Farmers Scheme, while 40 fish processors will also benefit for the same scheme.”
