FG, IFAD Target Poverty Reduction In Northern Nigeria

The Federal Government says it is collaborating with International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and international donor agencies towards poverty reduction and food security in parts of the North affected by insurgency.
Director, Planning and Policy Coordination, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Mr Ibrahim Tanimu, disclosed this at the Federal Government-FAD/French Development Agency (AFD) Value Chain North (VCN) Technical Validation in Abuja.
The Tide’s source reports that VCN project design is targeted at eight States of Kebbi, Sokoto,Zamfara, Katsina, Jigawa, Yobe, Borno and Kano.
Its overall goal is to contribute sustainably to poverty reduction, enhanced nutrition and better resilience of rural population in the Northern States of the country.
The VCN development objective is to improve food and nutrition security and income of households in northern Nigeria through inclusive and sustainable value chain development as an enabler for rural transformation.
Tanimu, represented by Mrs Okuboere Mukak, Deputy Director, Planning and Policy Coordinator, FMAFS said VCD North project would boost modern farming method in order to increase production and productivity thereby enhancing market access and financial services.
Tanimu reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to continue to support IFAD, AFD and development partners to design intervention that supported the fight towards poverty reduction and food security for the betterment of the people.
He decried that the North-East and North- West had been experiencing several attacks by insurgents since 2012 adding that the menace had caused serious hardship and food crises in the region.
“Our duty is to validate the project report of the VCN which has great potential component for agricultural development that will mobilise farmers to increase their food production.
“It will also bring hope to the displaced citizens in this areas that:are faced with such challenges in the food supply chain
“It will help farmers particularly smallholders who have been prevented by insurgency from accessing their farm lands and suffered abject poverty in the rural areas and help them with freedom and access to food, market facility and farm input delivery.’’
Tanimu said the project when implemented would not only contribute substantially to poverty and unemployment reduction but would greatly bring about sustainable farming activities in the value chain and provide newer business opportunity
According to him, the partnership is timely considering government interest towards alleviating the sufferings of the people in the northern part through innovative agricultural development project to drive food production through input delivery to market.
“Therefore, the hope of Nigerian government with IFAD as a key development partner, is to transform the food systems pathways that will increasingly address the complex challenges facing populace in the zones in an equitable manner,’’ he said.