Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir, has said that 80 percent of the state’s population depends on agriculture for their livelihood.
The governor disclosed this during the commissioning of the Soil, Water, and Plant Science Laboratory at the State College of Agriculture along Tafawa-Balewa Road.
The facility was constructed and handed over to the Bauchi State Government by the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project.
Governor Mohammed expressed his gratitude to the ACReSAL Task Team Leader for trusting the state’s capacity to handle the procurement process.
“Although the procurement process experienced some hiccups, suspicion, and mistrust due to the initial capacity of the contractors, I am ultimately proud of them.
“They have done well and have gone the extra mile to ensure the work meets the required quality and expectations,” he said.
He described the laboratory as a bastion of knowledge that would serve multiple purposes. Beyond agriculture, noted that the facility would benefit the real estate and construction sectors through advanced soil testing.
“We have made it a policy that our infrastructure development must be guided by scientific tests to improve the structural integrity and quality of our projects,” Governor Mohammed added.
He also extended his appreciation to the Federal Government, the World Bank, and ACReSAL for bringing the project to fruition in Bauchi State.
Also speaking at the event, the ACReSAL Task Team Leader, Joy Iganya Agene, commended the project team for establishing the laboratory.
She emphasised that the facility was created for the direct benefit of the people and to help restore agricultural productivity in the region.
“We just inspected the greenhouse facility, where you can see the healthy nature of the vegetation and produce,” Agene said.
She further said that “The foundation of successful agriculture begins with physical and chemical analysis, which is exactly what this laboratory is equipped to conduct.”
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