By Inusa Ndahi, Maiduguri
FOLLOWING global climatic changes and the devastating flood that ravaged many farmlands, Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno state on Saturday unveiled the 2024-2025 dry season inputs intervention by Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) for 49,000 households.
The occasion took place at Khadamari, Jere local government area Secretariat, as the intervention which will be in batches would cover Borno, Adamawa and Yobe (BAY) states in the North East sub-region.
This is as additional 300 households with under 5 children in Khaddamari also received Safe Access to Fuel Efficient (SAFE) Kits: stoves & briquetts, as well as Tom Brown (locally made nutritional supplements).
Represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Umar Kadafur said, the gesture is timely considering the devastating flood disaster which occured in September this year, leaving many farmlands submerged.
His words: ” I would like to first express my deepest appreciation to the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) for their invaluable partnership in this project. Your support and continuous collaboration have been vital to our agricultural success and today’s event is a testament to the strength of that partnership.
“As we are all aware, agriculture is the backbone of our State’s economy and the dry season presents both a challenge and an opportunity for our farmers. The support we are providing today will go a long way in equipping our farmers with the necessary tools and inputs to maximize their productivity during this critical season.
“We are witnessing the distribution of high-quality seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, and other essential materials that will help increase yields, protect crops from pests and diseases and ultimately improve the livelihoods of our farmers.
” This is just one of the many initiatives undertaken by FAO as part of its commitment to strengthening the agricultural sector, improving food security and fostering rural development.
“However, our vision for agriculture goes beyond just the provision of inputs. We are focused on creating an environment where farmers have access to the knowledge, technology, and infrastructure they need to thrive. This includes expanding access to credit, improving irrigation systems and promoting sustainable farming practices.
” I want to assure you that this administration remains committed to supporting you in every step of the way. To our farmers, you are the true heroes of this State. Your hard work and resilience, even in the face of adversity, are an inspiration to us all. With the support of programs like this, I am confident that we can achieve greater heights and overcome the challenges posed by climate change, insecurity and other obstacles.
” Let me also take this opportunity to encourage the 24,500 beneficiaries across 66 Wards in 12 Local Government Areas of Borno to make the best use of the inputs provided. It is important that we utilize these resources wisely, so that we can maximize our output and ensure that the gains we make today translate into long-term prosperity for our communities”. Kadafur said.
In his remarks, the FAO Representative ad interim in Nigeria and to ECOWAS,
Mr. Dominique Koffy Kouacou appreciated Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), with the generous support of donors including the Government of Norway, the European Union Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), the Swiss Development and Cooperation (SDC), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF).
Other donors Kouacou said include the Government of France and the Special Fund for Emergency and Rehabilitation Activities (SFERA), which contributed to the success of the official launch of the 2024-2025 dry season inputs distribution in northeast Nigeria.
According to him, this initiative aims to provide critical agricultural inputs to farmers, helping them rebuild their livelihoods following recent flooding and other climatic challenges in the region.
” From October 1 to 15, 2024, alone, the floods affected over 9.2 million people and submerged 4.5 million hectares of land, including 1.6 million hectares of farmland. These floods are projected to cause a combined annual production loss of about 1.1 million tonnes of maize, sorghum, and rice—enough to feed 13 million people for a year. Financially, the potential cereal crop losses translate to nearly USD 1 billion.
“FAO’s intervention will target 49 000 households across 24 local government areas (LGAs) in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states. In Borno State, 24 500 households in 12 LGAs (Bama, Damboa, Dikwa, Gwoza, Jere, Kala Balge, Konduga, Kukawa, Mafa, Mobbar, Monguno, and Ngala) will receive inputs, while in Adamawa, 9 800 households across six LGAs (Girei, Madagali, Mayo Belwa, Mubi North, Numan, and Song) will benefit from the distribution.
“In Yobe State, 14 700 households will receive the inputs across nine LGAs (Bade, Bursari, Fika, Gaidam, Gujba, Gulani, Nangere, Tarmuwa and Yunusari). The inputs include assorted vegetable and cereal seeds, such as maize, rice, amaranth, cabbage, carrot, okra, onion, and tomato, alongside NPK fertilizer and petrol-powered water pumps to support dry season farming.
“The distribution of these inputs is designed to support recently relocated communities and flood-affected areas, providing them with the necessary resources to recover and build resilience. Each household will receive either 10 kg of maize seeds or 12.5 kg of rice seeds, or a combination of vegetable seeds, along with 25 kg of NPK 15:15:15 fertilizer. Additionally, groups of farmers will share water pumps to help irrigate their farmlands.
“During this recent Cadre Harmonisé food security analysis presentation on November 1, 2024, in Abuja, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security brought attention to a growing concern: projections estimate that between June and August 2025, approximately 33.1 million people across Nigeria could face food insecurity—a sharp increase of 8 million people from current figures.
“Of those analyzed across 26 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), 16 percent are expected to experience crisis-level food insecurity (Phase 3+) during next year’s peak lean season. In the northeastern states alone, the number of people affected is currently at 3.8 million but is projected to rise to 5 million between June and August next year.
“These revelations have reignited FAO’s commitment to supporting Nigeria in enhancing the resilience of vulnerable households, especially in regions experiencing conflict and insecurity challenges, climate shocks, and economic pressures.
“The affected communities urgently require comprehensive support that integrates protection measures with immediate assistance in food, livelihoods, and nutrition, aiming to restore stability and self-reliance.
“In partnership with the Borno State Government, the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and key stakeholders in the humanitarian and development sectors, FAO has remained steadfast in its mission to restore livelihoods in Borno and the wider Northeast region.
“Our interventions form part of a broader programme targeting internally displaced persons (IDPs), returnees, and host communities, with a focus on bolstering food security and economic self-sufficiency in the three most conflict-affected states.
” At the core of FAO’s emergency strategy is the restoration and strengthening of food production capacities for farming and agro-pastoral communities, ensuring they can sustainably meet their nutritional needs.
” This is addition for 300 households with under 5 children in Khaddamari who also received Safe Access to Fuel Efficient (SAFE) Kits: stoves & briquetts, as well as Tom Brown (locally made nutritional supplements).
” Guided by our mission of achieving Zero Hunger, in alignment with Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG2), FAO remains dedicated to procuring and distributing essential inputs to enhance agricultural productivity”. The FAO Boss stated.
In a vote of thanks, the Executive Chairperson of Jere local government area, Hajiya Inna Galadima expressed deep appreciation to FAO and Borno State Government under the leadership of Governor Zulum in addressing challenges faced by current economic hardship associated with the recent flood disaster.
She enjoined the beneficiaries not to sale the items, but make good use of it on their farmlands in order to make them economically self -reliant and contribute to the agricultural productivity under the present administration.
