By SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri –
Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum has commended the Food and Agricultural.Organizatiin (FAO) for its unwavering support and partnership with the state government in fostering agricultural development in the state and North East region.
Zulum stated this during the launching of the distribution of dry season farming inputs to 49,000 farmers in Khaddanari town of Jere LGA of Borno State yesterday
The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Hon. Umar Kadafur, emphasized the critical role of agriculture as the backbone of the state’s economy while highlighting the significance of equipping farmers with the tools necessary to maximize productivity during the dry season.
Zulum further assured the state government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for farmers, including expanding access to credit, enhancing irrigation systems, and promoting sustainable farming practices. He reiterated the importance of distributing high-quality seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides to improve crop yields and protect against pests and diseases.
He also commended the resilience of people of the area especially farmers for their perseverance in the face of adversity and urged them to make proper use of the items to feed themselves and others as well make money from farming.
The governor, however, charged the 24,500 benefiting households selected from the 66 wards of the 12 local government areas of th state to ensure proper utilization of the inputs wisely to ensure that the program’s impact is long-lasting and transformative for their communities.
He also reaffirmed the state government’s dedication to support farmers across the state and build more resilient and prosperous agricultural sector of the state economy while expressing optimism that this initiative would yield abundant harvests and contribute to a brighter future of the state population.
Earlier, the FAO Representative and interim in Nigeria, Mr. Dominique Koffy Kouacou, highlighted the importance of this intervention in mitigating the challenges faced by communities affected by climate shocks, conflict, and economic pressures.
Mr. Koffy appreciated the collaborative efforts of the Borno State Government and other international partners in supporting vulnerable populations confronted with devastating impact of climate change, while recalling flood disaster of 10th September 2024 which affected over 9.2 million people and submerged vast hectares of farmland, leading to significant lost in crops production.
He said FAO’s intervention was , aimed at restoring livelihoods by providing critical inputs such as seeds, fertilizers, and solar-powered water pumps to support dry-season farming and rebuild resilience among affected households.
The FAO Country Representative added that the targeted support was meant for households with young children, pointing out that, about 300 households in Khaddamari town received SAFE kits, fuel-efficient stoves and briquettes, alongside Tom Brown, and a locally made nutritional supplement to combat malnutrition.
According to him, these efforts complemented FAO’s broader strategy towards enhancing food security and addressing immediate nutritional needs in flood-affected communities.
He however acknowledged the generous contributions from FAO’s donors, including the Government of Norway, the European Union Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA), the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), the Special Fund for Emergency and Rehabilitation Activities (SFERA), and the Government of France.
Mr. Koffy reaffirmed FAO’s commitment to achieve Zero Hunger in the state and region in the nearest future while and thanking all the partners for their role in advancing sustainable recovery in Northeast Nigeria.
