The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) says it is investing $7.1 million in sustainable food systems transformation in Niger and Kebbi states through the Global Environment Facility (GEF-8) Food Systems Integrated Programme (FSIP).

Project Manager for GEF Funded Project Food System Integrated Programme, Nigeria, Nifesimi Ogunkua, stated this at the state inception workshop of the programme in Minna on Wednesday.

She said the five-year programme was designed to transform agricultural production systems through sustainable practices in crop production, livestock and aquaculture.

Ms Ogunkua said Niger and Kebbi states were selected based on evidence of environmental degradation associated with agricultural production, particularly rice farming, livestock development and fisheries.

According to her, the programme will address challenges such as unsustainable farming practices, declining soil fertility, land degradation, climate change and limited access to finance among smallholder farmers.

She explained that over $2 million had been allocated to support smallholder farmers in the two states through grants and revolving grants to enable them to adopt sustainable agricultural practices.

She said the programme targeted about 37,000 hectares of agricultural land for improved and integrated landscape management, restoration of 13,000 hectares of land cover and mitigation of approximately 2.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.

The FAO project manager added that the programme was expected to benefit 100,000 smallholder farmers and small and medium-sized enterprises across the two states, with women accounting for at least 50 per cent of the beneficiaries.

She said the interventions would be implemented in nine local government areas and 11 landscapes in Niger State, with relevant ministries, departments and agencies, farmer organisations, private sector operators, women and youth groups involved.

Ms Ogunkua urged stakeholders to take ownership of the programme, stressing that its success would depend on effective collaboration and commitment to sustaining the interventions beyond the five-year implementation period.

Earlier, Niger State Commissioner for Agriculture, Isah Sidi-Rijau, said the programme aligned with the agricultural transformation agenda of Governor Umaru Bago administration.

He said Niger State was endowed with vast arable land, water resources and favourable conditions for agricultural production but needed sustainable practices to address climate change and environmental degradation.

The commissioner assured FAO and GEF of the state government’s commitment to providing the necessary institutional support for the successful implementation of the programme.

Giving the objectives of the project, Matthew Ahmed, Permanent Secretary, Niger Ministry for Agriculture, said nine local government areas in Niger would participate in the FSIP aimed at transforming agrifood systems and improving food security in the state.

He said the participating LGAs were Borgu, Mashegu, Mokwa, Agaie, Agwara, Edati, Katcha, Lapai, Magama. 

He added that farmers would benefit from non-interest revolving funds provided through their cooperative accounts to support trading activities for one year, after which the funds would be transferred to other farmer organisations.

Similarly, Executive Director, Niger Foods and Logistics, Patience Koku, said the initiative aligned with the state’s efforts to develop interconnected agricultural value chains through crop production, livestock, aquaculture, irrigation, mechanisation and processing.

She said building resilience against climate change, prolonged drought, unpredictable rainfall and declining soil fertility was critical to sustainable agricultural development.

Also, Commissioner for Ministry of Livestock, Abdullahi Mammangi, said climate change had intensified competition between farmers and herders over land, water and grazing resources.

Mr Mammangi, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Jonathan Wasa, commended FAO for bringing relevant sectors together, noting that livestock production also contributed to environmental degradation through greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation and unsustainable land use.

The Director of Planning and Strategies, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Sheriff Jibrin, pledged the association’s commitment to mobilising farmers and supporting the programme.

(NAN)