UN to give 141,000 N/East households farm inputs

 

Farmers to get inputs from UN

The UN Food and Agriculture  Organisation (FAO) is to support 141,000 rural households in the North East with farm inputs in 2017 rainy season.
The Area Manager of FAO, Mr Amadou Diop, made this known on Thursday at the launching of the distribution of 2017 Wet Season Input Support to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), returnees and Host Communities in Fufore Local Government Area of Adamawa.
Diop said that the measure was part of efforts to curtail food and livelihood crisis affecting households in the sub region.
“As you know, within the food sector, FAO and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture in March conducted the  Carde Harmonize vulnerability analysis that highlighted  around 5.2 million people struggling with high levels of food insecurity in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states.
“To respond to the food and livelihoods crisis, FAO has provided since 2014, Agric-input and livelihood support to the crisis affected households in the North East states.
“For the 2017 rainy season, FAO is supporting 141,000 rural households, targeting IDPs, returnees and host communities in the states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe, through the provision of quality agriculture inputs, fertiliser, and seeds of cereal, pulse and vegetables,” he said.
Diop said that the overall objective of the programme was to improve food security and nutrition of people in the areas affected by the Boko Haram insurgency.
He said that in Adamawa a total of 41,000 households in 10 local government areas of Fufore, Girei, Gombi, Hong, Madagali, Maiha, Michika, Mubi North, Mubi South and Yola South would benefit from the support.
He explained that FAO was collaborating with 19 implementing partners selected among national and international NGOs including affected states ADPs to implement the programme.
“In Adamawa, seven implementing partners were selected.
“The kits of the inputs to be distributed are composed of seeds of maize, cowpea and vegetables and fertiliser.
“The beneficiaries are identified according to stringent criteria of vulnerability of IDPs, returnees and host families,” Diop said.
He listed Central Emergency and Relief Fund of UN, ECHO, OFDA, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Norway, SIDA and Switzerland as sponsors of the programme.
Malam Idris Adamu and Aishatu Usman, who spoke on behalf of beneficiaries lauded the programme which they said would go a long way in helping them to pick up lives once again.