Farmers in Mafa and Jere LGAs of Borno State affected by insurgency have expressed desire for more support to agriculture to boost food production. They, in this regard, urged the North East Development Commission (NEDC) to come to their aid.
A cross section of the farmers and stakeholders in that axis, said the areas had fertile land for food and cash crops production but needed support from government and relevant agencies, like the NEDC.
Malam Abba Kawu, District Head of Mafa, said agricultural support to farmers in the areas that have resumed farming activities would boost their production and address poverty.
Said he: “These areas are known for farming activities and the current road construction by NEDC will open up the area.
“We want the Commission which had also intervened in provision of houses and other livelihood support to the people, to do more in agriculture for the people to tap the maximum potential of the areas”.
Alhaji Bulama Bukar, Ward Head of Jiro in Mafa LGA, who lauded the return of relative peace in the area, said farming activities had resumed for the first time in several years, adding that farmers needed support in areas of such inputs as improved seeds and pesticides.
Stated he: “We have resumed farming activities with support from security personnel that still give us protection to work on our fields.
“The ongoing road construction in the area by NEDC, linking Ngom to Koshebe, Zabarmari, Khadamari, Galameri and Dusuman communities in Mafa and Jere LGAs will greatly enhance agriculture in the areas”.
Messrs Mohammed Ibrahim, Danladi Idris and Usman Haruna from Khadamari village of Jere LGA known for all-year-round mass production of rice and vegetable, on their part, said they needed more agricultural support to expand their areas of production.
They noted that the access roads being provided by NEDC were a big relief that would enhance farming and business activities in the areas that had problem of access roads to transport their produce.
They lauded the Federal Government for establishing NEDC, saying that its interventions were impacting positively on the communities.
Vice President Kashim Shettima had last Friday performed the ground-breaking ceremony for the roads by NEDC, linking communities in Mafa and Jere LGAs with Maiduguri.