Borno targets 1, 092 tons of maize, sesame for exports, others, says Gov. Zulum
By Njadvara Musa, Maiduguri
Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum has targeted the production of 1,092 tons of maize and sesame for exports to earn foreign exchange.
According to him, the State government will continue to invest in irrigation agriculture to boost food and cash crops production.
Zulum unveiled the export of crops on Wednesday while inspecting the 20-hectre Koiri irrigation scheme project along Maiduguri-Magumeri road.
“We’re working towards food sufficiency and the export of cash crops, including cassava and maize,
“Let’s carefully put things in order, as the state government will commence exporting sesame and other cash crops to earn foreign exchange in the near future,” he said.
Besides, he added that the Koiri irrigation farm project, is one of the pilot irrigation schemes could reduce unemployment and poverty.
He said that the irrigation scheme will produce 364 tons of maize and sesame in a single crop cycle.
The Governor assured that in three crop cycles, the Koiri irrigation scheme could produce 1, 092 tons of maize and other cash crops annually for industrial raw materials and exports.
Zulum continued; “We’ll subsequently change focus and invest our resources in irrigation farming rather than food production.
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“My administration will provide the political to achieve food security by 2027,”
He, therefore, ordered the expansion of the irrigation scheme to 300 hectares, with the three senatorial districts, each irrigating 100 hectares of land in Lake Chad and River Hawul Basins.
“My predecessor, the Vice President, Sen. Kashim Shettima; has procured about 10,000 drip irrigation kits,” assuring that no less than 1, 000 hectres of land will be cultivated to the targeted crops for exports.
