Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations, has raised an alarm of impending food insecurity in the troubled North East as insurgency has denied 65,800 farmers access to agricultural inputs in the area.
Speaking at the flag off of he 2021 rainy season farming interventions at the Farm Centre, Maiduguri on Thursday, the Country Representative of FAO in Nigeria, Fred Kafeero lamented that inaccessibility to improved seeds and fertilizers have resulted into food insecurity and poverty among the populace.
He disclosed that the launch was the sixth rainy season farming intervention being conducted by FAO in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states since 2016.
He said supporting the rainy season farming is key to the entire insurgency affected region, noting that farmers’ harvests contribute significantly to food security and income generation throughout the year.
He said: “Access to agricultural inputs for high yields, also saves lives and livelihoods of farmers,” adding that the distribution of seeds and fertilizers have contributed to the building of people’s resilience to conflict.
He said that this year, 65,800 household farmers were supported with agricultural inputs and livestock restocking for fattening, while 40,000 farmers were targeted for the distribution of inputs.
He disclosed that: “They will receive wet blended fertilizer and a variety of seeds of crops including vegetables, cereals and pulses,” he said, noting that this will engage the farmers in agricultural production for food security and income generation.
He said food security and livelihood conditions in insurgency affected states, still require humanitarian assistance, particularly with the COVID-19 pandemic that reversed recent gains.
He said FAO is grateful for the support of our resource partners who continue to fund our interventions in the region, disclosing that the FAO 2021 rainy season intervention was made possible by the generosity of 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.
Kafeero, while lamenting food insecurity, said: “The latest CH analysis results projected that over four million people will be in need of food assistance between June and August, 2021,” warning that there will be an increase of 19 per cent in food requirements.
Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum disclosed that the state has been devastated by insurgency, as 70% of farmers were affected with the destruction of their means of livelihoods.
The governor, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Prof. Isa Hussaini said that the state government as part of its 10-pact agenda has prioritized agriculture for food security and farmers’ incomes.
According to him, food security requires massive investment in the ongoing agricultural transformation programmes for job creation and economic growth.