A Non-Governmental Organization known as ‘The Enabling Resilience to Climate Change Related Risks’ (ER2CC) has commenced a tree-planting program in Benue State.
The organization, through strengthening local civil society organizations, plans to meet the target of planting 20,000 trees in the state within three years.
The Project Coordinator, Mrs. Rachel Achimba, said that tree planting is one way to cushion the effects of deforestation and climate change in Benue communities.
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She explained that the project, implemented by Elim CVTC and funded by the European Union (EU) and Christian Blind Mission (CBM), will continue to plant trees in four communities each in both Gwer West and Konshisha LGAs to meet its target of planting over 20,000 trees within three years of the program in the state.
Flagging off the tree-planting project in Naka, headquarters of Gwer West LGA, the coordinator stated that the program had also begun in Konshisha LGA last week.
The coordinator said that the initiative was to combat climate change and the adverse effects of deforestation through interventions in agriculture in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture.
She added that ER2CC had last year supported farmers in Konshisha and Gwer West with improved varieties of rice, maize, and cassava.
She appreciated the people of Gwer West for taking good care of the trees given to them last year, promising that their organization will ensure that climate change issues affecting their community are mitigated.
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The caretaker chairman of Gwer West LGA, Henry Agba, who was represented by the council’s Secretary, Francis Chia, thanked Elim for the support, especially the introduction of TME419 cassava to the people of the local government, asserting that Nigeria cannot survive without cassava.
He urged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the cassava TME419 species and assured the Elim team of security throughout their stay in Gwer West.
Also speaking at the occasion, the traditional ruler of the council, Ter Tyoshin, HRH Daniel Abomtse, who was represented by the Mue Ter Mbakpa, Chief Lawrence Ijir, charged his subjects to plant 10 trees when they cut down one tree to avoid deforestation.
He testified that all the trees he planted last year survived because he watered them well, describing the species of trees donated by Elim as “quick maturing varieties” that can survive the short rainy season experienced as a result of recent climate change.
Additionally, the Mue Ter Laav, Chief Peter Ormir, appealed to Elim to provide the saplings on time from May to June so that the trees will mature before the rainy season ends.
Following complaints by some beneficiaries that the trees they planted last year did not survive, the sectional head of the main Agric department of the local government, Hon. Godwin Apusu, made an elaborate presentation, enlightening them on the proper method and procedure of tree planting, assuring them that if done accordingly, trees planted even during the dry season will survive without problems.
“Even if you plant trees in October or November but provide good care, they will survive. Dig a pit not less than two feet (0.16 meters) in both width and depth, remove the laterite (red layer) at the bottom of the pit, and replace it with black surface sand and press it.
“Let the pit be two feet deep. Fill the pit up to the waterproof that is wrapped around the sapling. Do not hold the sapling by its stem; support its base with your hand so that it will not be removed from the sand with which it’s planted in the waterproof. This way, when the roots start growing, they will not mix with the ordinary dug sand immediately and die off.
“After planting, if it is during the rainy season, the trees can survive without watering. But if the rainy season is over, make sure you water them daily,” Apusu said.
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