By Inusa Ndahi, Maiduguri
THE Borno State Government has commended the efforts of Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) for distributing crop production inputs, fertilizers and other interventions for about 9,975 farmers.
The commendation was made in Dusuman village of Jere local government area on Monday by the Acting Governor, Umar Usman Kadafur while flagging -off the distribution of crop production inputs for the 2024 rainy season for 26,750 farmers in the North East states of Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, and Taraba (BAYT) donated by the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations.
“I am profoundly pleased to be here with you in Dusuman, Jere Local Government Area for the official flag-off ceremony of the distribution of crop production inputs for the 2024 rainy season, for farmers in the North East, by the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations.
“This bold and imaginative initiative is a collaborative effort between the Borno State Government and the Food and Agricultural Organisation to help our people, especially those recently relocated back to their ancestral homes, to restart a meaningful livelihood and improve their productive capabilities and general well- The inputs being distributed today include assorted improved seeds of cereals, legumes, maize and vegetables as well as bags of wet-blended NPK fertilizer.
“The distribution aims at targeting subsistent and small-scale farmers, numbering about 26,750 of them in Borno, Adamawa, Yobe and Taraba States. About half of the beneficiaries are however from Borno State alone.
“The Borno State Government is indeed aware of the strategic role being played by the Food and Agricultural Organization, particularly in assisting victims of the insurgency and in our collective efforts to bring about viable and sustainable peace and security in the State.
“Government would continue to solicit the cooperation of international organisations, especially our international partners and non-governmental bodies in our determined efforts to address the multifarious challenges of development confronting the state, with a view to improving the well-being and livelihood of our people.” Kadafur stated.
In his address, the FAO Representative ad interim in Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr. Koffy Dominique Kouacou said his organization will continue to support the country, and Borno in particular to strengthen the resilience capacity of the affected population, mainly in the North East region.
“All the vulnerable populations require protection interventions in addition to food, livelihood, and nutrition assistance.
“FAO and the Government of Borno, along with the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources and players in the humanitarian sector have in one way or the other demonstrated commitment to rebuilding livelihoods in Borno and across the northeast.
“You would recall that a few months ago in Abuja, the Hon. minister of agriculture and Food Security, while presenting the result of the March 2024 cadre harmonize food security analysis for 26 states and the FCT, noted that 31.8 million people in the analyzed states are in food insecurity situation.
“Out of the projected population, 4.84 million people are in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states (BAYT) which shows an increase in number of people projected to experience high acute food insecurity compared to the 4.4 million reported during the October 2023 CH analysis.
“During that occasion, I made a commitment to support the country to strengthen the resilience capacity of the affected population, mainly in the North East region.
“FAO has been implementing an extensive programme targeting IDPs, returnees and host communities in the three states most affected by the conflict in the northeast.
“FAO’s emergency strategy aims to strengthen the food production capacity of farming and agro-pastoral communities in conflict affected areas, including its vision of zero hunger as highlighted by the Sustainable Development Goal2 (SDG2), guides our intervention through procurement and distribution of nutrient dense vegetables, cereals, and legume quality seeds and NPK fertilizers.
“This year, with the funding support from four (4) financing partners including the Governments of Norway, United States of America, Switzerland, and the European Commission, FAO is supporting 26,750 vulnerable households, including returning IDPS and their host communities with productive agriculture assets to rebuild their lives and livelihoods”. Kouacou said.
While acknowledging greater cooperation received from World Food Programme (WFP) and other development partners, the FAO Boss informed that, this synergy will help households mitigate the escalating food insecurity while at the same time build resilience of the returnees in the settled communities.
In a vote of thanks on behalf of beneficiaries, the Chairperson of Jere Local Government Area, Hajiya Inna Galadima, who was represented by the Secretary of the Council, Hajiya Hauwa Mustapha said, the intervention is timely, as it will go along way in assisting peasant farmers in boosting their economic development and livelihood.
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