Gombe State has reported steady progress in land restoration, agricultural productivity and rural water access as implementation of the Agro Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project reaches its third year.
The state coordinator of the programme, Dr Sani Jauro, said more than N223 million has so far been released as interest free loans to community groups under the Community Revolving Scheme operating in the Bajoga and Gombe catchment areas.
According to him, the funding has largely strengthened small scale agricultural enterprises and stimulated job creation across participating communities.
He explained that the facility, supported by the World Bank, is designed as a revolving platform. Beneficiaries repay after business cycles, allowing fresh groups to access capital.
Nearly 90% of recipients invested in farming and related ventures, generating close to 2000 jobs. Strong recovery rates in the state have encouraged the approval of an expansion that will extend the scheme to more than 45 additional groups.
The resilience project, which is being implemented in nineteen northern states and the Federal Capital Territory, is a six-year intervention.
Gombe has completed half of its implementation timeline and officials say results are already visible across agriculture, water resources and environmental management.
The initiative, Jauro noted, aligns with the development blueprint of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya.
He explained that the facility, backed by the World Bank, operates as a revolving funding mechanism whereby beneficiaries repay after completing their business cycles, enabling other groups to access the same support.
“Nearly 90% of the recipients invested in agriculture and related ventures, generating close to 2000 jobs,” he added.
He further stated that strong loan recovery performance in Gombe encouraged the approval of an expansion to more than 45 additional groups.
According to Jauro, the project, which is being implemented across 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory, is designed as a six-year intervention.
Gombe has completed half of its implementation period and tangible results are already evident in agriculture, water resources and environmental management, according to him.
He stressed that all activities under the programme align with the development agenda of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya.
Speaking on mechanisation, Jauro said twelve tractors were procured and distributed across the eleven local government areas, with one retained as backup. He explained that the machines are digitally tracked and managed at council level to ensure transparency and efficiency.
This, he said, has reduced the time required for land preparation and enabled farmers to plant promptly despite changing weather conditions.
On crop support, he disclosed that more than 3,700 kilograms of improved millet, guinea corn and maize seeds were supplied to 55 farmer clusters statewide. These varieties are resilient to erratic rainfall and early dry spells, allowing farmers to secure better yields under challenging climatic conditions, he explained.
Jauro pointed out that irrigation infrastructure is also receiving renewed attention through the rehabilitation of the Balanga Dam canal, first constructed during the administration of former Head of State Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida.
Once the secondary canals are completed, he said, the area will support over eleven thousand acres of all season farming.
He also affirmed that beyond crop production, the programme is promoting alternative livelihoods to address environmental degradation.
Poultry farms, fish ponds and greenhouse facilities have been introduced in selected communities to reduce dependence on activities that harm the environment, he noted.
Two greenhouse facilities have been completed and another is under construction, according to him.
He added that 50 rice processing machines and 25 groundnut milling machines have been procured to strengthen agro processing clusters.
Addressing soil health and waste management, Jauro said a recycling facility has been established to convert plastic waste into compost for organic fertiliser production.
Excessive use of chemical fertiliser weakens soil productivity over time, he explained, adding that organic alternatives are being promoted to ensure healthier soil and safer food production.
On water access and erosion control, he said, “About 250 wash boreholes and tube wells have been drilled across most local government areas to support irrigation and domestic needs. In erosion prone communities, 450 households were provided with 4,000 litre rainwater harvesting tanks to reduce runoff and encourage home gardening.”
He further revealed that a dilapidated structure near Dadin Kowa Dam is being transformed into a modern farm centre that will serve as a training hub for extension workers and farmers across the three senatorial districts.
The centre will strengthen knowledge sharing and build technical capacity, he noted.
Looking ahead, Jauro said a draft bill has been prepared to establish a Gombe State Integrated Landscape Management Agency to sustain the investments beyond the six-year project lifespan.
The proposed law has been forwarded for legal review and will provide a dedicated budget line once enacted, he explained.
To prevent market glut as production increases, he stated that the programme is linking farmers to processing industries at the Muhammadu Buhari Industrial Park.
Strengthened value chains will ensure that higher output translates into stable incomes for farmers, according to him.
With a midterm review scheduled for March, Jauro expressed optimism that the progress recorded so far will translate into broader economic and environmental gains for the state in the coming years.
