FAO to distribute inputs to farmers for food, income security

The Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) is to distribute farm inputs to 98,400 households to ensure food sufficiency in insurgency-affected states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe.

It also disclosed that the overall impact of conflict on agriculture was estimated at $3.7 billion (N1.332 trillion).

The inputs, which include crop seeds, pesticides and fertilizers, are being distributed to 1.3 million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the 2019 cropping season.

This was disclosed yesterday in a FAO situation report for May, 2019, released in Maiduguri.

“2.7 million IDPs are projected to be severely food insecure (June–August 2019),” said the report.

According to it, to ensure food and income security in Northeast, the UN agency has distributed fertiliser and high -ielding, early-maturing rice and maize and vegetable seeds.

It noted that $29 million (N10.44 billion) was still needed under this year’s Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) for Nigeria.

Continuing, the report said: “As it is the main planting season, the success of the 2019 rainy season will determine the food security and income needs of about 80 per cent of the people in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe.

“While the dry season has historically represented a break in farming, continued crop production during this period is central to enabling stronger, more resilient and food-secure farming households.”

It said small-scale farmers required immediate assistance to boost their resilience ahead of the forthcoming lean season of June to August.

“About 2.7 million people will face severe food insecurity if humanitarian efforts do not continue,” warned the report.

“Due to the influx of IDPs and the tense security situation, host communities have also reduced access to land and other resources for food production.

“These led to high levels of poverty and malnutrition, while vulnerable households also face less access to humanitarian services due to the inaccessibility of some areas deemed ‘no go’ amid security concerns.

“Compounding these challenges is a severe climate variability that is negatively affecting production systems, resulting in reduced crop yields and livestock productivity.”