By Bisola Adeyemo
The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has assisted 65,000 smallholder farmers with farm inputs in North-East region of Nigeria.
Speaking on Saturday during the launching of 2021 rainy season farming intervention at Farm Centre in Maiduguri, FAO Representative in Nigeria, Mr Fred Kafeero, said the intervention is the sixth successive rainy season farming intervention which FAO has implemented in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States, the three states which have been at the centre of the long-drawn Boko Haram/ ISWAP insurgency, leadership reports.
“In Northeast Nigeria, the insurgency, which has lasted over a decade, has constrained the access of smallholder farmers to agricultural inputs including quality seeds and fertilizers.
“FAO supports these farmers, using a kit system that aligns with the various local agro-ecologies. FAO works with the government at the sub-national and local level and non-government partners throughout the implementation of the initiative to ensure its sustainability and localisation.
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“In the context of conflict, food production is central to entrenching peace, building resilience, and promoting sustainable development. This underscores FAO’s work in the region as we design agriculture-based interventions that seek to build the humanitarian development and peace nexus,” said Kafeero.
“The current 2021 intervention is further significant in light of the COVID-19 pandemic that reversed the gains achieved in restoring the livelihoods of those affected by the regional conflict.
“The 2021 rainy season is generously funded by the People and Government of Canada, the European Union Trust Fund for Africa, the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Kingdom of Norway and the Kingdom of Sweden,” he added.
In his remarks, Borno State governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, said the state was not unaware of the numerous support FAO has rendered to victims of Boko Haram insurgency in the state.
