Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has announced his administration’s focus on boosting food production through investment in irrigation agriculture, with plans to export sesame in the near future.
Speaking at the Koiri irrigation farm, a flagship drip irrigation project under his leadership, Zulum emphasized the state’s commitment to maximizing agricultural output.
The Koiri scheme, covering 20 hectares of arable land, aims to yield 364 tons of maize and sesame within a single cropping cycle. With plans for three cycles annually, the project aims to achieve an annual cultivation output exceeding 1,092 tons of maize and various other crops.
Governor Zulum said, “Let’s carefully put things in order. Borno State will start exporting sesame and other cash crops shortly.
“We will subsequently change focus and invest our resources in irrigation farming or, rather, food production. I assure you that we will provide the political will needed to achieve food sufficiency.
Highlighting plans for expansion, Zulum said, “We need to expand our scope. We should identify bigger land; we can expand with another 100 hectares each in Borno Central, South, and North.”
He also revealed that his predecessor had procured approximately 10,000 hectares of drip irrigation kits, indicating a significant investment in irrigation infrastructure. “After this year’s rainy season, we anticipate the cultivation of at least 1,000 hectares,” he added.
