Land degradation: GSF move to rejuvenate 200,000 hectares of land

Amidst degradation of land due  to the effects of  climate change across the globe, the Green Sahara farms has moved to rejuvenate about 200,000 hectares of land in the North Central and Sahel region to ensure a green economy wherein human beings co exist with nature in a sustainable manner is put in place.

Speaking to newsmen in Maiduguri, Borno state the Chief Executive Officer GSF  Suleiman Dikwa explained that the farm in partnership with their partners are creating a full value chain in the two regions through planting of trees and creating a green economy wherein human beings co exist with nature in a sustainable manner.

According to him 'The move  was due to the encroachment of the Sahara desert and the receding Lake Chad Basin region with the consequent environmental tragedy affecting over 30 million people around the Sahel which affects the quality of life . The Farms is working towards changing the  criminal  economy due to extremism and banditry in the North East and the north central into an economy dependent on natural capital'.

Dikwa further explained that, ''We create a model which seeks to adapt business models which redevelop natural capital and reconnect the economy to nature using landscape restoration as a foundation for the emergent Economy with a view to develop an economy for the common good.

''Our approach to  business is to create economic clusters of interconnected and co-dependent entities of stakeholders through the sustainable market approach which takes cognizance of all social ,environmental and economic components of the supply chain. Winner Business Day award of top 100 fastest growing Nigerian companies and the First local company to adopt the ESG principles.

''We commenced tree planting at the inception of the company in Yobe state where we experimented by introducing trees in Potiskum and environs. About five years later, we commenced the green sahara revolution which is Africa Centric, components  of the program in our first strategic framework were operation Spicy Green , Green Grain Gains, Green Tree Thrift (GTT).

”We had two major successes with the OSG. We were able to work with a local company, Tiger Foods Limited to develop alternatives to imported raw materials and clean up the supply chain of herbs and spices.

”We are able to commercialize the cultivation and processing turmeric re-generate, to the best of my knowledge the most successful import substitution program in recent history in Nigeria.

”Our business model was adjudged one of the best in Africa by the Rockefeller Foundation and the Initiative for Global Leadership .

The company was scouted by an Indian company operating in Nigeria to develop its export supply chain which was successfully developed with export market linkages established globally be currently closing negotiations with major global retailers in Partnership with Green Savannah sustainable foods of the United kingdom and Fidelity Bank Plc.

''The company has always faced financing constraints vis a vis the opportunities available to it, so it focuses on developing sustainable systems and processes through its engagements with governments at international ,national and local levels''.

While developing its nursery capacity and seeking landscapes to restore it’s preferred balance sheet of natural capital,” Suleiman Dikwa said.

“The Green Sahara Farms have created the largest nursery system in Africa with a production capacity of 2.7 million seedlings a year and can scale to 5 Million a year 1.2m trees were planted over  last year.  

GSF also commenced project with sterling one foundation to established  young Forestry clubs and established orchards in schools with a target of  200 Million trees over ten years. GSF has  executed the largest tree planting campaign in five decades in Nigeria .

He recalled that Green Sahara Farms was a Delegate to the United State Trade Development Agency Reverse Trade Mission sponsored by the United States government and executing the largest tree planting campaign in Nigeria with reforest action of France and the CBA.

The farm also successful implemented the first land degradation neutrality project  in  Nassarawa and Plateau States Nigeria.