Acting Governor, Kadafur Flags Off FAO 2024 Crop Production imputs Distribution in Borno

Acting Governor, Kadafur flags off FAO 2024 crop production imputs distribution in Borno

By Madu Mohammed, Mauduguri

The Acting Governmor, of Bormo state Hon. Umar Kadafur has flagged off Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), 2024 rainy session crop production imputs for the Northeast state in Dusman village of Jere local area if the state.

Speaking at the flagging off, of the FAO, 2024 rainy session crop production and distribution of imputs in Dusman village on yesterday, the Acting Governmor, Hon Kadafur said ” 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 fertilize”, the Acting Governmor said.

The Acting Governmor said “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.”.

Hon Kadafur said the Borno State Government is aware of the strategic role being played by the Food and Agricultural Organization, particularly in assisting victims of the insurgency and in collective efforts to bring about viable and sustainable peace and security in the State.

Stressing that the government would continue to solicit the cooperation of international organisations, especially our international partners and non-governmental bodies in its determined efforts to address the multifarious challenges of development confronting the state, with a view to improving the well-being and livelihood of the people”.

“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”, Kadafur added.

He assured that the Bormo state

Government will continue to solicit the cooperation of international organisations, especially 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 the people.

Earlier, the the Borno state commissioner for Agriculture and Natural resources, Hon Bafu Bamusami said ” the Borno State Government through the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources in its desire to mechanize agriculture, increase food production and to ensure food security recently released 312 tractors and implements for the 2024 wet season.”

Represented by his permanent Secretary, Alh as j Bulama Gana said ” these machines are to cultivate farmlands in all the accessible farms across the State free of charge. Also worthy of commendation is the effort of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in the provision of crop production inputs to farmers..

Also speaking to he FAO representative in Nigeria, Dominique Koffy said 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 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 NE region.

All the vulnerable populations require protection interventions in addition to food, livelihood, and nutrition assistance.”

He assured that FAO and the Government of Borno, along with the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources and other players in the humanitarian sector have in one way or the other demonstrated commitment to rebuilding livelihoods in Borno and across the northeast.

He said ” 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. ”

” FAOs vision of zero hunger as highlighted by the 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 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., He added.