Yobe, World Bank empower IDPs to invest in agriculture

Yobe state government in collaboration with the World Bank have supported returnee Internally Displaced  Persons (IDPs) and those still in camps with farm inputs.

The farm inputs will enable them to engage in agricultural activities toward economic recovery.

Musa Jidawa, permanent secretary, Yobe state emergency management agency (SEMA), disclosed this in Damaturu, on Sunday.

Jidawa said the state government had provided 300 IDPs with farmlands, tractors seeds and fertilisers.

He also said the UNDP in collaboration with Japanese government, the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) and the Victims Support Fund (VSF) had also supported the IDPs with cash, improved seeds, fertilisers and livestock.

The World Bank Fadama project on its part has supported vulnerable persons and IDPs with agricultural inputs, livestock, poultry and inputs for fish farming under the north-east food security and livelihood support project.

Musa Garba, the state project coordinator, Fadama lll AF ll, said Yobe government had paid N20 million counterpart fund for the project with 5,000 households expected to benefit from the programme.

Garba said over 2,000 vulnerable households from Gujba, Gulani, Nangere, Bade, Jakusko, Yunusari, Giedam and Potiskum local government areas had already benefitted from the projects.

“Those in irrigation farming were provided with water pump machines, sprayers, fertilisers and herbicides, we also supported poultry farmers with birds and feeds” Garba said.

“It is very encouraging that the poultry farmers have started selling eggs to improve their economy, while the goats have started multiplying.”

The project coordinator said foodstuff such as rice, beans, maize and vegetable oil were also provided to households to protect the water pumps, birds and the livestock from being sold off.

“I have expanded my rice farm and established a banana plantation with support from Fadama lll AF ll,” Wakil Kaigama, a farmer in Bumsa village, said.

“Each of the 20 Fadama lll beneficiaries in this village received a water pump machine, seeds, sprayers, herbicides and pesticides.”