The Agro-Climatic Resilence Semi-Arid Landscapes team (ACReSAL), in Kwara State has called for the enhancement and sustainability of agricultural and reafforestation activities in Lafiagi and its environs, in Edu Local Government Area of the state, to promote its eco growth and development for sustainable value for socioeconomic potentialities in the communities.
The State Project Coordinator, Engr. Zubair 'Tunde Oloruntoyin, with his team in company of the Kwara state Senior Special Adviser on Water Resources, Shehu Ndanusa Usman, gave this indication in Lafiagi, during the team's assessment tour to community.
He stressed that with the awareness of the negative effects of desert encroachment, global warming and deliberate deforestation causing havoc on the community, the ACReSAL Project leveraging on its multi sectoral outlook of harmonizing the concepts of environment, water and agricultural remedies to mitigation of land depredations would proffer sustainability and effectiveness to applied interventions.
Speaking on the extent of the Egua water flow in the area, Engr Zubair said the project tagged with water sheds, will prompt the need to identify the watersheds as well as their devastating effects on the community and consider possible solutions to mitigating same coupled with appropriate investments on the recovered areas.
He emphasized that this will enhance land reclamation, investment on the redeemed land thereby improving on the living standards of the people through creation of job opportunities, food security and other social amenities for the people of the community.
Zubair explained that "the extent of the proposed irrigation scheme will be dependent on the needs assessments based on its intended purposes which could be for agriculture, domestic or/and industrial uses.
He affirmed that the Lafiagi community is blessed with enough farm land, water and land resources which could generate more economic values for the state.
Engr Zubair Oloruntoyin lauded Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq's administration for keying into the multi-sectorial project for the benefit of state, making Lafiagi community one of the beneficiaries of the project.
The Emir of Lafiagi, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Mohammed Kudu Kawu, appreciated the team for the assessment visit and emphasized the need for farm irrigation, securing the river banks as well as harnessing their waters for irrigation purposes, planting of economical trees as well as other major issues begging for adequate attention in the community.
The Emir stated that the community has so much passion for economic development, hence, the focus more on the planting of economical trees, other resourceful plants and making sure that the environmental proceedings are observed.
He appreciated the state government and the agency for coming to their aid for prompt intervention in addressing the environmental challenges in community.