The Kano State Ministry of Environment in conjunction with the State's Afforestation Project, (KNAP), is organizing a two day training workshop for farmers in the state on new techniques of fighting desertification through effective tree planting campaign.

Declaring the workshop open, the Commissioner of Environment, Alhaji Abubakar Garba Yusuf, said the growing approach of desertification in the state has been aided by inadequate tree planting, adding that this has affected food shortages and availability of economic trees.

He disclosed further that over 40 kilometers of shelter belt was developed along Dumbuwa, Zakiran Kafi, Dawakin Tofa, and Tsanyawa areas of the state.

The commissioner also said that the government has set up 20 hectares of afforestation in Gafam as well as additional 20 hectares of gum Arabic farm as a way to arrest the fast approaching desertification in the state.

Alhaji Garba said though government's efforts to halt tree felling in the state is not feasible, however, it becomes necessary for people to learn planting new ones so as to keep the environment safe from the resultant consequences of desertification.

'The encroaching desertification has led to food shortages, destruction of farmlands, poor animal feeds, degrading land and general economic melt down", he said.

The commissioner said, "it is in view of this that the state government view the necessity of training farmers on new techniques of tree planting as without the full participation of farmers, no credible attempt at arresting desertification could be possible".

He said in 2008 over 1,960 farmers were registered as advocates of tree planting with over 2.6 seedlings distributed for planting in the state.

Alhaji Garba further explained that government has also introduced school tree planting clubs as well as women tree planting groups to support the initiative and popularize the tree planting campaign in the state.

In his address at the occasion, the head of the Kano state afforestation project, Alhaji Maitama Danbatta said the workshop is aimed at educating farmers on the need for them to participate in tree planting as means of preventing the encroaching desertification in the state.

He said government is determined to provide effective tree planting strategies as means of enhancing the forest reserves in the state, adding that farmers in the state would be adequately trained on modern synergies between farming and tree planting.

"We will also provide new skills for farmers on new methods of handling economic trees, how to utilize tree resources for the development of the state and equip them with better methods of improving the forest resources in the state", he added.

The two day workshop is being attended by farmers from the 44 local government areas of the state and they are expected to be trained on new practical methods on tree planting.