Farmers losses 4bn #yobe

The Yobe chapter
of Gum Arabic Farmers Association said on
Thursday that its members had lost over N4
billion worth of trees and gum due to the
prevailing security situation coupled with illegal
logging activities in the state.
Alhaji Jafaru Ayuba, the association’s spokesman,
told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in
Damaturu that the losses were incurred from
2011 to date.
He said that the farmers had also lost their farms
to bush fire.
“Illegal logging by firewood sellers from within
and outside the state was a major threat while the
security challenges discouraged many farmers
from working and treating the trees.
”There is a widespread illegal logging across the
state and most times chemicals are sprayed on
the trees to fasten their maturity and eventually
cut down for firewood.”
He said that Gum Arabic cultivation had the
potential of raking N2 billion foreign exchange to
the state annually.
Ayuba said that the climatic condition and land
mass of the state were suitable for large scale
Gum Arabic cultivation.
“The pattern of rainfall, adequate sun shine and
soil texture makes Yobe State most suitable for
large scale production of Gum Arabic that will
earn the state good foreign exchange” he said.
The spokesman of the association, however,
called on the state government to come to the aid
of the over 20,000 farmers who lost their farms
and trees to the illegal logging activities and bush
burning in the state.
“Government should import improved variety of
seedlings from Sudan and distribute same to the
farmers.
“Government should also ensure strict
enforcement of the state environmental laws to
protect the trees, environment and the wild life.
“Gum Arabic cultivation would also effectively
fight the menace of desert encroachment
confronting the state.