Climate Change: Kano, FAO Begin Restoration of 3,000 Degraded Land

Ahmad Sorondinki in Kano

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in collaboration with Kano State Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) began the process of restoring over 10.000 hectares of degraded lands across the state.

Dr. Dahir Muhammad Hashim, the ACReSAL Project Coordinator in Kano, disclosed this at the end of a 5-day training for drivers of Delfino plough machine, on land preparation for restoration held at Kyale community, Gabasawa Local Government Area of the state.

He pointed out that the restoration programme has started with the training of the drivers that will make use of the Delfino plough machine, on the operations that will guide their activities.

“The Kano Government under ACReSAL project has identified over 10,000 hectares of degraded land that will be restored and handed over to farmers for cultivation.

‘’Apart from allotting the restored lands to farmers for cultivation, we would provide them with seeds and fertilisers with other agricultural inputs to enhance food production, 

‘’Similarly, we would ensure that trees are planted on the lands to address deforestation and climate mitigation in our local government areas,” Hashim said.

The ACReSAL Coordinator added that Nigeria has committed to restoring four million hectares of degraded lands for agriculture development in which ACReSAL promised to support the restoration of one million hectares with the technical partnership of the (FAO) to restore 350,000 hectares of the land.

On his part, Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Focal Person, Precious Agbeso, reiterated the commitment of FAO, an agency under the United Nations, in providing support to countries with the aim of ensuring improved food production and security.

Agbeso said part of such efforts is the collaboration with the Nigerian government in recovering the 350,000 hectares of degraded land for cultivation in the 19 northern states including FCT.

He noted that the Delphino machine is totally different from the common tractor that are used for ploughing, cultivation among others.

‘’The Delphino machine is specially produced for operations like land restoration very fast and diligently,’’ Agbeso said.

‘’The training for the operators became pertinent because, without the knowledge on how to operate the machine, the goals of the restoration of the degraded lands may become a mirage.

‘’The training is to ensure that we have a pool of operators in the country that would be able to drive the machine seamlessly.  So as technical partners training the operators is our responsibility.’’

Also speaking, Jamie Rixton, Delphino training instructor, said the training exercise for the operators does not only educate them on how to drive the machine but also to be able to maintain it.