Food security: FG inaugurates rural projects in Gombe communities
The Federal Government through the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) on Thursday inaugurated some projects across several rural communities in Gombe state to boost food security and create employment for youths.
Our correspondent reports that the projects were inaugurated in communities in Balanga, Kaltungo, Shongom, and Akko Local Government Areas of the state.
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The projects inaugurated include five solar-powered boreholes in Kulani, Popandi, Birwe, Lopandintai, and Farin Kasa communities, 60 ponds fish farm cluster in Karel community for young graduates and women as well as 68 units of solar streetlights in Kumo.
Dr Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development while inaugurating some of the projects in the Karel community of Shongom LGA of Gombe state said the projects were for the benefit of the communities.
Abubakar who was represented by Dr Musa Inuwa, the State Coordinator, FMARD, Gombe state office said the projects were done to improve the wellbeing and welfare of farmers that majorly dwell in rural areas.
He stated that the federal government was committed to creating an enabling environment for farmers to carry out farming activities with ease with a view to boosting food security.
He added that agriculture was key to the economic diversification agenda of the federal government as well as job creation for youths hence the interventions.
The stated that part of the reasons for executing rural projects was to make those communities comfortable for young people to live and farm thereby reducing rural-urban migration.
Abubakar urged youths and women in Karel community who are the beneficiaries of the fish farm cluster to properly harness the potentials in fish farming to make a living for themselves.
He stated that fish farming was a lucrative venture and there is always a market for them, hence urged them to continue to use the facilities to boost food security in the country.
He further tasked the benefiting communities as well as their leaders to set up committees to ensure the sustainability of the projects, noting that resources were not as readily available as it used to be.
Some of the beneficiaries who spoke to our correspondent appreciated President Muhammadu Buhari and Dr Abubakar for executing life-impacting projects in their communities.
Mr Bulus Sure, chairman of the fish farm cluster in Karel community said with the provision of the farm and constant water supply through the solar borehole, youth and women would continually be empowered.
According to him, there are 60 ponds in the Karel cluster and a pond could take between 500 and 1, 000 fish.
Also, beneficiaries of the solar-powered boreholes appealed to the federal government to construct more boreholes to cater to the water needs of the dwellers.
