Katsina — The Katsina State government in collaboration with a Chinese firm, Clean Air Organization, is to engage 3,000 communities in planting of economic trees.

The state's Commissioner for Environment, Alhaji Aminu Ibrahim Safana made the disclosure yesterday at an event to mark this year's World Environmental Day.

Safana said the benefiting communities would be selected from seven local government areas of Katsina, Malumfashi, Kankia, Funtua, Daura, Mani and Dutsin-ma.

The commissioner said the government will provide 500 hectares of land in each of the benefiting local government, while the Chinese firm will supply the needed seedlings.

"Trees such as Mango, Cashew, Guava, Orange and Apple would be planted under the programme by the selected communities," he said.

He maintained that the project is aimed at reducing unemployment in the state. He added that the state government has approved the establishment of Green Initiative Project in seven border local government areas of the state, and that it will collaborate with the Federal Government's Green World Sahara Initiative to achieve the project.