Shelter Belt Date Plantations To Yield N300b GDP Growth For Nigeria – DG NAGGW
By Muhammad Aminu
DUTSE( Jigawa state, North West Nigeria) – The Director General, National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW), Alhaji Sale Abubakar over the weekend said the proposed Date plantations across the shelter belt when operational would generate an estimated N300 billion to national economic growth annually.
Alhaji Sale Abubakar who led the Agency’s
delegation on a courtesy visit to the Emir of Dutse, Alhaji Muhammad Hameem Nuhu explained that the economic advantages for Nigeria is in addition to control Sahara within her shelter belt.
The DG stressed that “Post commercial date production is sector in which the country’s income generation can increase significantly as well as make the nation to become a great exporter of dates”.
He disclosed that the Agency would procure 5 million Date plant seedling to be disbursed among 11 state in the federation to create shelter belt and boost Date commercial production in the country.
Alhaji Abubakar told the Emir that his agency has sealed a deal with with the Suleiman Farms and Agro-Allied company limited for the productions of the 5 million Date plant seedling to be procured and distributes for shelter belt and production in commercial quantity.
According to him “We were in the state to inspect the seedlings, before finally collecting and distributing to the beneficiaries states”, adding that “Dutse has excelled in date production”.
The DG said “We realised that 20 of the date seedlings can generate about N12 million annually, when the seedlings begin bearing fruits in the next few years”.
Alhaji Saleh Abubakar therefore praised the Emir, and the Dutse Emirate for the hospitality, as he sought great understanding between the palace and the agency.
In his remarks, the Emir of Dutse, Alhaji Hameem Sanusi, applauded the Agency for exploring the potentials of Jigawa state, as he enjoined other relevant agencies in the country, to exploit come to Jigawa potentials to promote agriculture.
The First class emir however, reflected that his late father, Muhammadu Sanusi, was passionate about exploring new date farming techniques, thus has sent delegations to Morocco, to adopt ideas.
He described the consultant, Alh. Bashir Aminu as a patriotic citizen Dutse emirate and Jigawa state is proud of him, an industrialist and entrepreneur who sacrificed his time to service to humanity.
Alhaji Hameem then, pledged continued support for the agency and other bodies coming to explore the potential of Jigawa state for the benefit of the country.
Also speaking, the Consultant for the date seedlings project in Jigawa state, Alh. Bashir Aminu (Dan Amar Dutse) and member of Dutse Emirate Council, commended the agency for its efforts, pointing out that Jigawa state boast of 150 species of Date.
Alh. Aminu who is also Chairman/ CEO of Sulaiman Farms and Agro-Allied Company Limited welcome all interested bodies who will support the vast production of the date to Jigawa state.