EU’s anti-deserfication effort reels out 634,132 trees in Katsina

By Temitayo Ayetoto…

In the last five years, the European Union (EU) has reeled out 634,132 variety of trees in Maiadua Local Government Area of Katsina State as part of its anti-desertification effort to encourage the concept of green house, Chris Udokang, EU project manager has said.

But only 538,994 of the trees, representing 87.3 per cent survived.

The project, he noted, was executed under the EU Fuel Wood Balance Programme (FUWOBA) and implemented by the Oxfam and the International Centre for Energy, Environment and Development, in collaboration with the National Planning Commission.

No fewer than 1,000 farmers were provided with agricultural implements which included fertilisers, insecticides and modernised cooking stove free of charge, to promote farming in the area, according to Udokang, who was quoted by a local news agency.

He urged the people to continue to maintain the trees as well as make judicious use of the farming implements for a better environment and a secured future free from desertification and lack of food.

The EU FUWOBA projects kicked off in October 2014 across some seven selected local government areas in Katsina State to promote agriculture and prevent desertification.